RANAU MEMORIAL

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

2/15^th Australian Field Regiment

Resource:

http://www.borneopow.info/memorials/ranau.htm