In May 1945 the Allied War with Germany ended. There were many great celebrations held in the UK (United Kingdom) and in much of Europe. However, while the British and Europeans were celebrating and having fun… The war in Australia continued as the Japanese still controlled many areas of the South Pacific. Australia had lost some of its best soldiers when Singapore fell. Other soldiers had died or had been captured by the Japanese.
After the War ended in around August 1945, people started to hear stories of the men who had been prisoners at Changi, on the Burma Railway, and other camps. However, there was a story, which became masked in secrecy, partly because there had been only six Australian survivors, meaning that only few could tell the story and partly because the Army authorities wanted to keep it a secret, even from the Australian Government. This story related to the Sandakan death marches, which had resulted in the deaths of nearly 2500 allied prisoners of war.
The Sandakan Death Marches remain the greatest and most inspiring stories in WWII. 2,400 Allied prisoners of the war, along with 3,600 Indonesian slave labourers, were forced to walk from Sandakan to Ranau. Those who were left behind during the March were either left to die on the route or killed. Only six of the POWs, who were Australians, survived it. The Sandakan Death Marches were a series of Marches that took place in 1942. Many Australian prisoners were involved as well as British Prisoners. Japanese soldiers also took part of the Death Marches. The prisoners and the Japanese soldiers were forced to walk on a very long route from Sandakan to Ranau, the prisoners had limited resources and no medical help around them, so therefore who ever could not successfully complete the marches were left to on the routes. That is why they called the marches; The 'Sandakan Death Marches'.
After the War ended in around August 1945, people started to hear stories of the men who had been prisoners at Changi, on the Burma Railway, and other camps. However, there was a story, which became masked in secrecy, partly because there had been only six Australian survivors, meaning that only few could tell the story and partly because the Army authorities wanted to keep it a secret, even from the Australian Government. This story related to the Sandakan death marches, which had resulted in the deaths of nearly 2500 allied prisoners of war.
The Sandakan Death Marches remain the greatest and most inspiring stories in WWII. 2,400 Allied prisoners of the war, along with 3,600 Indonesian slave labourers, were forced to walk from Sandakan to Ranau. Those who were left behind during the March were either left to die on the route or killed. Only six of the POWs, who were Australians, survived it. The Sandakan Death Marches were a series of Marches that took place in 1942. Many Australian prisoners were involved as well as British Prisoners. Japanese soldiers also took part of the Death Marches. The prisoners and the Japanese soldiers were forced to walk on a very long route from Sandakan to Ranau, the prisoners had limited resources and no medical help around them, so therefore who ever could not successfully complete the marches were left to on the routes. That is why they called the marches; The 'Sandakan Death Marches'.
The Prisoners of the War stayed in camps. More than 140,000 prisoners lived in these camps. The Prisoners of the War lived under cruel and harsh conditions and every one in three died would have died from starvation, work, punishment or disease. If any prisoner tried to escape they would be executed while the other prisoners would watch. The majority of the prisoners were forced to work in mines, fields, shipyards and factories. There diet consisted of only 600 calories a day, which is terrible because an average person is meant to have around 2,500 calories per day. Therefore this suggests the hardship and the courage of these Prisoners.
When the Prisoners were marching from Sandakan to Ranau, it resulted in more than 3,600 deaths. There were three marches and at the end of the marches only 38 prisoners were left alive in July of 1945. 12 days later they were all shot, However only 6 Australians remained alive, as they were lucky enough to escape during the marches.
When the Prisoners were marching from Sandakan to Ranau, it resulted in more than 3,600 deaths. There were three marches and at the end of the marches only 38 prisoners were left alive in July of 1945. 12 days later they were all shot, However only 6 Australians remained alive, as they were lucky enough to escape during the marches.