Tag: Kuching

Pigs reared in Batu Lintang Camp had better food than the POWs

by Patricia Hului -

When Batu Lintang camp was liberated on Sept 11, 1945 by the Australian 9th Division, the camp population was 2,024. Overall, there were 1,392 prisoners of wars (POWs), 395 were male civilian internees and 237 were civilian women and children. There were two death orders found among the official Japanese papers at

What happened to the 300 prisoners of Labuan POW camp during WW2?

by Patricia Hului -

Flying over the prisoner of war camp (POW) in Batu Lintang at a low height, RAAF Beaufighter pilots reported sighting white POWs, clad in khaki shorts, who excitedly waved as the RAAF aircraft flew over to drop leaflets announcing Japan's surrender. Credits: Public Domain (Copyright expired). https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C242106 When it comes to

Early records of inoculation and smallpox vaccination in Sarawak

by Patricia Hului -

If you are not familiar with inoculation or variolation (deliberately introducing the pathogen into an uninfected person), it is the method first used to immunize an individual against smallpox with material taken from a patient or a recently variolated individual, in the hopes that a mild, but protective infection would

How did the name of Sarawak’s capital get changed to Kuching?

by Patricia Hului -

In the olden days, Sarawak's capital was also known as 'Sarawak'. Kuching view. Credits: Pixabay. Why did the second White Rajah, Charles Brooke decide to change Sarawak's capital name to Kuching on Aug 12, 1872? Abang Othman Datu Haji Moasili wrote in The Sarawak Gazette on Aug 31, 1964 that explained the

The legend of Iban warrior Unggang and goddesses of Mount Santubong

by Patricia Hului -

The legend of Iban warrior Unggang and goddesses of Mount Santubong If it weren’t for Benedict Sandin (1918-1982), many Iban legends and folktales would have been forgotten by now. Originally from Paku, Benedict was an ethnologist, historian and Sarawak Museum curator (December 1966- March 1974). Mount Santubong Here is one of his