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� Labuan War Cemetery �
Surrender Point � Peace Park �
World War II has left its mark in Labuan
Labuan War Cemetery
This beautiful landscaped cemetery. Maintained by the Commonwealth War
Graves Commission, it is dedicated to the four thousand Australian, New
Zealand, British servicemen as well as Indian troops who lost their
lives during the Japanese invasion of Borneo or the Borneo campaign of
1945.
It is on high ground close to the airport overlooking the harbour. It is
the only war cemetery in North Borneo and was specially created also as
a cemetery for deceased POW's from all over Borneo.
Also at Labuan is a Memorial consisting of numerous columns surrounding
a square paved area which is dedicated to the officers and men of the
Australian Forces.
The small neat headstones are of bronze plaques mounted on small white
sloping concrete blocks each bearing the regimental insignia of the
deceased. Throughout the cemetery soft green grass predominates,
interspersed with small flowering shrubs and trees.
Many visitors, especially Australians, come yearly to pay respects to
lost relatives and friends. A memorial service is held on the nearest
Sunday to the 11th of November.
Location: Tarjung Purun on the outskirts
of the town near the airport
 Surrender
Point
Next to the Peace Park is Surrender Point, another historical place of
interest. This is where the 32nd Japanese Southern Army surrendered to
the 9th Division Australian Imperial Forces on 9th September 1945 which
led to the end of World War II in Borneo. The Japanese arrived at Labuan
on 1st January 1942, less than a month after they had started their
campaign in Malaya at Kota Baru and took formal possession of the island
on the 3rd, after facing no resistance. They occupied Labuan for four
years, even renaming it Pulau Maida, or Maidashima after General Maida,
the Chief Commander of the Japanese forces in Borneo. The capture of
Labuan was seen as essential for recovering supplies of oil, rubber and
timber from the mainland of Borneo.
It
would also serve as a base to help the Allies recapture Singapore. A
convoy of 100 ships were sent from Merotai. On 10th June 1945, they
reached Labuan and an attack was launched by the 9th Australian
Division. It was a successful attack, resulting in the surrender of the
Japanese troops
 Peace
Park
Situated close to Surrender Point, The Peace Park was built as a
memorial and renunciation of the horrors of war. It is dominated by the
memorial mound which is surrounded by landscaped gardens and pavilions.
Small ponds with stone bridges and park seats are all Japanese-inspired.
A bronze plaque commemorating the Surrender is mounted on a stone slab
near the entrance
"This monument is erected by the Japanese South Pacific Friendship
Association on September 1976 to preserve the memories of all the
soldiers who fought and fell on this island during the Second World War
and the memories of the civilians who perished with them. May it stand
as a lasting monument of human courage and devotion to duty and may
symbolised the fervent hope of every man, woman and child on this island
that never again will this island be a witness to so much sufferings and
miseries"
Peace Park which was sponsored by the Japanese people which also yearly,
more and more Japanese visit it
Location: located on the west coast
at Layang Layangan Village.
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