BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: The Australian High Commission in Brunei led a commemorative walk Wednesday (June 10) to mark the 81st anniversary of Operation Oboe in the Second World War.
Eighty-one years ago, Australian troops, supported by United States naval and air power, conducted amphibious landings to liberate Brunei Bay and Labuan. The combined landings across Borneo, dubbed Operation Oboe, remain the largest amphibious operation by Australia.
In the Brunei Bay landings, 127 Australians were killed in action or died of wounds sustained.
Beginning at 2.00am at the Brunei-Australia Memorial at Muara Beach and concluding at 8.30am in Bandar Seri Begawan, the 27-kilometre journey retraced the route walked by Australian forces during Operation Oboe.
The symbolic journey honoured the courage and endurance of those who fought to liberate Brunei and Borneo. The commemorative walk was led by High Commissioner of Australia to Brunei Michael Hoy together with Defence Adviser Lieutenant Colonel Paul Sanderson and members of the Australian High Commission.
The walk followed the April 14 visit to the Brunei-Australia Memorial by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese MP during his visit to Brunei, accompanied by Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong.
High Commissioner Hoy said, “The walk honoured Australia’s shared wartime experience alongside Bruneians.
“As recognised by His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, the Oboe landings created a very special connection between Australia and Brunei. We honour this legacy today by working together for regional stability and conflict prevention.” - Borneo Bulletin/ANN
