Do you know that there was a so-called rescue plan for the Sandakan Death Marches code-named Operation Kingfisher? The death march was a series of forced marches in Borneo from Sandakan to Ranau which resulted to the deaths of 1,047 prisoners-of-war (POWs). Meanwhile, the remaining 1,381 never left the Sandakan camp
Tag: Sabah
The cession of Sipitang by Brunei Sultanate to British North Borneo
Just like Sarawak, many of North Borneo (present-day Sabah)’s territories were part of the Brunei Sultanate. These territories were slowly annexed by the British North Borneo Chartered Company (BNBC) into the British North Borneo including Sipitang. The people of Sipitang (Sepitong, Sipitong or Si Pitong) So what is it like in Sipitang during
Japanese immigrants in North Borneo before World War II
Somewhere near the Tanjung Batu Street of Tawau, Sabah there is an old cemetery site. There, Japanese people were laid to rest. One might assume that they died during World War II (WWII) when Sabah was under Japanese occupation. However, a vast majority of them died way before the Second World War. Who
Fighting for Japan: The Korean and Formosan soldiers during WWII
The Japanese empire once wanted to buy North Borneo as a colony
On Nov 1, 1881, the British North Borneo Chartered Company (BNBCC) was formed to administer and exploit the resources of North Borneo (present-day Sabah). The territory then became a protectorate of the British Empire in 1888. At that time, BNBCC was lack of funds to develop the territory. Hence, the company started
Efforts to rehabilitate TNKU rebels after the Limbang rebellion 1962
On Dec 9, 1962, as the Brunei Revolt took place, the North Kalimantan National Army (Tentera Nasional Kalimantan Utara, TNKU) seized the town of Limbang. After attacking the police station, they captured several rifles and machine guns. They even held the British resident and his wife as hostage along with 12 others. On
#KajoAsks: Turning memories into embroidery portraits with Olumis Thread
Susumi Hoshijima, the Beast of Belsen of Sandakan POW Camp
Captain Susumi Hoshijima (center) Susumi Hoshijima, the Beast of Belsen of Sandakan POW Camp One of the infamous commandants of concentration camps during World War II (WWII) was none other than Josef Kramer. He was the Commandant of Auschwitz-Birkenau (from May 8, 1944 to Nov 25, 1944) and of the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp
Explorer Franz Witti and his death by sumpitan in British North Borneo
Francis Xavier Witti or also known as Franz Witti, was one of the first few Europeans to explore the northern part of Borneo. He was a former navy officer in the Austro-Hungarian Empire and avid explorer. When Witti came in contact with German adventurer and diplomat Baron Gustav von Overbeck during his
