THE SANDAKAN DEDICATION SERVICE
by Carol Cooper
It was not until after COFEPOW was formed that I learned about the Prisoners of War at Sandakan, North Borneo and the horrific details of the Death Marches. Tonie Harold and Yvonne Shorten are two of our very first members and I discovered from their membership forms that both their fathers had died at a place called Sandakan, which meant little to me. I feel sure that this name is unknown to most people unless they have some involvement but it is a name we should all have heard of and of the fate of the 2,500 men who died with only 6 Australian survivors.
It was not until another member, John Bessant, whose father was also a victim of the same tragedy, wrote to me asking if we had any members who had lost their fathers at Sandakan, that I began to learn of the terrible events that took place. John, together with Bryan Knutton, had spent three years bringing about the unveiling of a plaque dedicated to all those who died, many of whom while being forced to march from Sandakan to Ranau. Other camps on Borneo included Jessleton and Kuching. Many of the victims who died are buried at the Labuan War Cemetery.
The date chosen for this Dedication Service was April 18th 1999, the venue: the Garrison Church at Larkhill, near Salisbury. Tonie and Yvonne, both from East Anglia, naturally wanted to attend. Although my own father died in Burma, I was becoming very involved with many other tragedies that happened in the Far East, so I also wanted to attend this service and together with our partners, the six of us went for the weekend. Prior to the day in question, I was to learn that many other COFEPOW members were also travelling from various parts of the country which gave an excellent opportunity to meet new faces.
Although John and Bryan had fully advertised the service and sent many letters to family members, FEPOW associations, regiments and anyone else who had a connection, they really had no idea who would actually turn up to support them. They had no need to worry - the church was full. Three years of planning paid off and they were rewarded with the unveiling of a beautiful plaque designed by Bryan and the service commenced with standard bearers slowly walking up the aisle. It was a moving and memorable service. The singing of the congregation filled the church as the sun streamed through the windows. 'The Last Post' was played, filling my eyes to the brim as usual, then two minutes silence was observed. This was followed by the laying of a wreath by Col. Murray of the Australian Defence Staff in London.
For me, however, the day will be remembered for a small incident that occurred just before the ceremony began. Tonie and Yvonne, being Sandakan family members, were asked to sign a visitors book giving their fathers' particulars. Tonie knew those of his father, but Yvonne was unsure of the name of the Regimental Company that her father had been in. John Bessant had already researched the details of many of the men who had died which he had recorded in a book, including those of Yvonne's father.
Imagine the surprise of both Tonie and Yvonne when they realised that both their fathers had been together in the same Company, possibly knowing each other. They couldn't get over the coincidence that they had travelled together for this Service not knowing that their fathers had also once been together.
We all had a very enjoyable weekend, and as members of COFEPOW it brought us closer together, but for two people, who had never met before our association was formed, the events of the weekend brought them even closer together.
As Tonie headed off home he said "I can't wait to get out all the old photographs of my Dad to show to Yvonne, maybe her Dad is on some of them" and sure enough he was, sitting almost immediately in front of Tonie's father, which proves that for some people miracles can and do happen.