On the left is a
photograph of the Ranau POW Memorial that commemorates those Australian and
British Soldiers who died on the Death Marches from Sandakan to Ranau in 1945
and those prisoners who died at Ranau. It also commemorates the assistance
given by the local people of British North Borneo (now Sabah). It is commonly
known as the Gunner Cleary Memorial. The memorial is inscribed as follows:
THIS MEMORIAL MARKS THE SITE OF A PRISON CAMP OF SURVIVORS OF
THE FIRST DEATH MARCH FROM SANDAKAN TO RANAU FROM JANUARY TO APRIL 1945.
OF THE 2000 AUSTRALIAN SOLDIERS OF THE 2 ND A.I.F. AND 750
BRITISH SOLDIERS OF THE BRITISH ARMY WHO LEFT SANDAKAN ONLY 6 AUSTRALIANS
SURVIVED.
ON THIS ACTUAL SPOT, VX 52128 GUNNER ALBERT NEIL CLEARY, 2/15 TH
FIELD REGIMENT, ROYAL AUSTRALIAN ARTILLERY, WAS CHAINED TO A STAKE AND BEATEN
AND STARVED FOR 11 DAYS BEFORE HE FINALLY DIED ON 20 TH MARCH 1945, AGED 22
YEARS.
THIS MEMORIAL ALSO COMMEMORATES THE COURAGE AND BRAVERY OF
THE LOCAL PEOPLE OF SABAH, WHO SO GALLANTLY ASSISTED THE PRISONERS-OF-WAR
AGAINST OVERWHELMING ODDS.
LEST WE FORGET
OFFICIALLY UNVEILED BY DATUK JOSEPH PAIRIN KITINGAN, CHIEF
MINISTER OF SABAH, ON 31 JULY 1985 IN THE PRESENCE OF:
KEITH BOTTERILL SURVIVOR OF THE MARCH
OWEN CAMPBELL SURVIVOR OF THE MARCH
NELSON SHORT SURVIVOR OF THE MARCH
BRUCE C RUXTON STATE PRESIDENT RSL, VICTORIA
JUNE M HEALY DEPUTY NATIONAL SECRETARY, RSL
Ranau Memorial
Gunner
Albert Cleary
2/15th
Australian Field Regiment
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