The Sandakan Memorial Day recently celebrated its 75th anniversary. — Photos: TRACIA GOH/Sabah Tourism Board
People say “hardship brings people closer together” and this rings true in the stories of friendship and borderless bond between Sabahans and Australians who were prisoners of war (POWs) here, during the World War II.
The sad history of Sandakan Day tells of the 2,500 or so Australian and British POWs, who were held in a camp in Sandakan. All but six of them perished by the year 1945; the six who escaped managed to do so thanks to the kindness of villagers.
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