Lynette Ramsay Silver

Once World War 2 was over, the section of the death march track cut from the existing bridle track at Mile 42, near Sandakan, to the river crossing near Tampias, at Mile 131 – a difficult section that by-passed all villages and traversed terrain not yet surveyed – fell into disuse.

It remained lost until 2005 when trekking expert Tham Yau Kong and Lynette Silver, using wartime documents and information from local people who had travelled the POW route many times during the Japanese occupation, opened it for trekking parties.

Although it is possible to retrace the entire distance, the first 85 miles from Sandakan to Bauto pass largely through oil palm plantations that bear no resemblance to the jungle-clad terrain of 1945. For those wishing to traverse the entire route it is best, therefore, to cover this sector on a bicycle or in a 4 wheel drive vehicle. Bicycles or a vehicle are also recommended for the section from Tampias to Nabutan, where the old pre-war bridle track, linking Tampias to Ranau, has been swallowed up by the main road.

Following the route:

Although most of the east-west highway does not follow the route taken by the POWs, it is close enough for those with an interest in the POW story. At key points along the way, where the road is reasonably close to the original track, special signs featuring the silhouettes of six POWs have been erected by the Sabah Tourism Board. The first of these signs is in Sandakan, on the road to St Michael’s Anglican Church, where many POWs spent their first night in Borneo. The second is at the POW Memorial Park at Mile 8, where the marches began. Along the actual death march route, signs have been placed at Muanad River (downstream from a POW staging post); Taviu Hill; the river crossing near Tampias; Paginatan village (an important staging post); the camp site at Ranau; and The Last Camp, 8 kilometres form Ranau, where the survivors of the marches were held until their deaths (see Last Camp Memorial). At Paginatan, there is also an Historical Marker (see Paginatan Historic Marker)

Trekkers begin walking at Bauto, where the POW route moves away from the river flats and over several hills. From here, the track passes into the Taviu Valley, before meeting the main road near the summit of Taviu Hill. After continuing to Tampias, trekkers are transferred to Nabutan, to pick up the foot track once more and follow it all the way to Ranau (SEE MAP BELOW). The number of days spent trekking is six.

Tham Yau Kong, who pioneered the route and has a deep understanding of the POW story, offers specialised treks and tours along the death march route through his company, TYK Adventure Tours.

 

 

Options include:

Full twelve-day  tours (six days of trekking) treks with various extensions and options, including climbing Mt Kinabalu; shorter eight-day tours (six days of trekking);  white water rafting; and a survival course run by Dusun jungle survival experts at Miki Camp, Kiau village

1. three scheduled departure treks each year, accompanied by Lynette Silver
2. student trekking programs
3. student treks incorporating ‘community service’ programs
4. short, two-day treks for the less energetic
5. custom-designed treks for groups with special interests or requirements and

For those who prefer to cover the distance from Sandakan to Ranau by vehicle, TYK can arrange overland transfers. To find out more, visit www.sandakan-deathmarch.com

Click on each of the 5 images below to read the article “Death Marched beside them” that appeared in The Bulletin dated 25 April, 2006.

    

WARNING: All material appearing on this website is subject to international copyright.

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Those unable to trek can also follow the route, by joining Lynette on an Anzac Day Tour, which she organises in an honorary capacity each year. Her intimate knowledge of both the highway and the path taken by the POWs allows travellers to gain insight into the privations suffered by the marchers, from the comfort of a coach. For details of the Anzac Day tour, contact Jenny Brushe, of Jetset Travel Wahroonga at wahroongavillage@bigpond.com or go to Tours - Anzac Day on this website.

 

Bogus claims:

The death march track opened up by Tham Yau Kong and Lynette Silver in 2005 follows as closely as is practically possible the route taken by the POWs, retraced and recorded by the Australian Army War Graves team in 1945. Copies of this map, preserved in Australian Archives, are on public display at the Australian Government Commemorative Pavilion at the Sandakan Memorial Park and at the Kundasang War Memorial.

Do not be misled by recent spurious claims by Wayne Wetherall, an Australian tour operator, that the POW track passed through the village of Miruru, and that he ‘discovered’ in August 2011 a ‘lost’ section of the track.

The POW route did not, at any stage, enter the Liwagu Valley or pass anywhere near Miruru village. The ‘lost’ section has never been lost. It is highly protected Class 1 Forest Reserve, entry to which is prohibited without special permission. It is also in a high risk ‘flash flood’ zone. In the interests of safety, and for environmental and conservation reasons, trekking groups use a safer and far less intrusive route.

A statement, rebutting Wetherall’s claims, was published in Sabah’s leading newspaper, the Daily Express, after a local man interested in wartime history and concerned by the veracity of these statements, initiated a public debate. For full details, go to http://www.dailyexpress.com.my/read.cfm?NewsID=750 with further transcript and additional commentary on http://blog.kokodatreks.com