Latest news with #BlessedVirginMary
Borneo Post
3 days ago
- Borneo Post
Runway to hell: The Sandakan Death Marches remembered
Origins of Sandakan Airport I have called Sandakan home for many years. Like countless travellers, I have walked through the departure hall, waited at the gates and watched aircraft come and go against the endless Bornean sky. Today, Sandakan Airport is a modern gateway. From a military airfield, it is now a civilian facility, the airport was expanded in 2014 to a 12,500 m² terminal. A 2022 runway extension to 2,500 m now allows it to accommodate larger aircraft like the Airbus A330 and can handling 1,000 passengers an hour. It hums with the ordinary rhythm of life – homecomings, farewells, business trips, holidays – and remembrance. Yet beneath this routine, few realise the ground beneath the tarmac is heavy with a darker history. Long before it welcomed tourists and commuters, this site was carved out in war, its runway laid not by engineers in safety helmets, but by men in rags and chains. The British Royal Air Force had first marked the spot as a possible airfield during World War 2. But when Japanese forces swept into Borneo in early 1942, they seized the location, recognising its strategic value as a refuelling point between Malaya and the Philippines. The task of building it fell to approximately 1,500 British and Australian prisoners of war, brought from Singapore, along with local and Javanese labourers. On treacherous tufa soil, under pitiless heat and watchful bayonets, they hacked, hauled and laid the 1,400-metre runway. The work was brutal. Food was scarce, beatings were common and disease spread faster than hope. By December 1942, the airfield was operational, marked by the landing of Japanese General Yamawaki Masataka. But as the war's tide turned, its importance waned. What remained, however, was not mercy – but a new chapter of suffering and deaths. By 1945, with Allied forces advancing, the Japanese began moving the surviving POWs inland – a journey that would be seared into history as the Sandakan Death Marches. Those who left the airfield would never return. I have visited the Sandakan Memorial Park in Taman Rimba many times over the years. Each visit is a step back into a silence heavy with memory. Standing amid the quiet trees, I feel the weight of history pressing in – and the goosebumps rise unbidden. The airfield at Sandakan Airport is not merely concrete and steel; it is a graveyard without markers, a witness without words. Beneath its tarmac lies a story of unimaginable suffering, etched forever into the soul of this place. 80th Oak Anniversary – 15 August 2025 This year marks the 80th anniversary of the Sandakan Death Marches. On 15 August 2025, Sandakan will once again host its annual memorial service. It is also a Holy Day, the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. A soldier observing a moment of silence at the Sandakan Memorial. Eighty years on – the Oak Anniversary – the name itself speaks of strength and endurance of oak trees, qualities that echo in the memory of those who perished. This is my humble contribution to that remembrance: a tribute to the men who endured unimaginable misery, a reminder that war can strip away humanity until only cruelty and endurance remain. Lest we forget. Remembering the Unreturning – The Atrocities of the Sandakan Death Marches Late May 1945. In the dim haze of dawn at the Sandakan POW camp, hundreds of skeletal figures stir. They rise slowly, clothed only in ragged loincloths, their hollow eyes dulled by three years of captivity. Starvation, untreated wounds and relentless disease have stripped them of their strength – proud Australian and British servicemen reduced to skin, bone and suffering. Their bodies are ravaged: sores and scabies, matted hair alive with lice, ulcers so deep the bone shows, legs grotesquely swollen from beriberi. Ahead lies a 260-kilometre march through Borneo's unforgiving jungle to Ranau, on the slopes of Mount Kinabalu. Few will reach it. Fewer still will live. These men had arrived in Sandakan in 1942-43, captured during the fall of Singapore and shipped in appalling conditions to North Borneo. Their task: to build a Japanese military airfield by hand, using little more than picks, shovels and baskets. For a while, survival seemed possible, but this illusion ended in mid-1943 when the Japanese discovered a hidden radio and evidence of contact with Allied operatives. The dreaded kempeitai, Japan's military police, descended on the camp. Interrogations were merciless: beatings with rifle butts, bamboo slashes, water torture and starvation until men broke. A number were executed outright. From that point, conditions spiralled into calculated neglect. Rations were steadily reduced, tropical diseases spread unchecked and work became increasingly brutal. Men who collapsed were beaten or left to die. The airfield was eventually bombed by Allied forces in late 1944, rendering it useless. By then, most prisoners were emaciated and unfit for labour. In January 1945, with Allied advances threatening Borneo, the Japanese decided to move the prisoners inland. This was no evacuation for safety – it was a death sentence disguised as relocation. A crude jungle track was hacked out to Ranau, deliberately routed through remote and mountainous terrain to avoid villages and potential rescue. The first march saw around 455 men set off. They carried heavy loads of Japanese supplies on their backs while surviving on a handful of rice a day. Many were barefoot, some wearing the rotting remnants of army boots tied together with wire or vines. Guards showed no pity – men who stumbled or lagged were bayoneted, shot or clubbed to death. Their bodies were often left where they fell, to be consumed by the jungle. In May, another 536 prisoners were forced along the same route, this time in even worse condition. Survivors' testimonies describe men staggering with tropical ulcers so large the bone was visible, shuffling on swollen, weeping legs from beriberi. Water was often denied despite the heat and humidity; men drank from muddy puddles or drainage ditches alive with insects. The third and final group – fewer than 75 men left in June. Most could barely walk. They were carried in relays by their fellow prisoners, who themselves collapsed from exhaustion. Few made it more than a few kilometres before they were executed or simply died. It has been reported that many Japanese soldiers also died from starvation, with some even turning to cannibalism in order to preserve their fighting effectiveness. At Ranau, those who survived the marches entered another circle of hell. Rations were almost non-existent; prisoners fought over scraps of rotting food, chewed on grass, leaves and bark to stave off starvation. Japanese guards killed for the smallest reasons – a glance deemed disrespectful, a request for water, or simply to demonstrate their power. Some prisoners were tied to trees and left to die slowly. Eyewitness accounts from locals recall seeing prisoners so weak they crawled on all fours, only to be executed moments later. Acts of kindness from villagers – offering food or water – were punishable by beatings or death, yet many locals still risked everything to help. These acts of humanity are credited with saving the six Australians who eventually escaped and survived. When the war ended in August 1945, the full scale of the atrocity emerged. Of the 2,434 Allied prisoners of war who had entered Sandakan, only six Australians survived. All others died in the camp, along the track or at Ranau. The death toll was 99.75%. It is widely considered to be the single worst atrocity suffered by Australian servicemen during WWII. During the second march, Gunner Owen Campbell and Bombardier Richard Braithwaite fled into the jungle, sheltered and fed by locals until Allied rescue. In July 1945, from Ranau, Private Nelson Short, Warrant Officer William Sticpewich, Private Keith Botterill and Lance Bombardier William Moxham also escaped, surviving only through the bravery of Sabahan villagers who hid them at great personal risk until the war's end. Today, the jungle has reclaimed the trail. The birds sing again, the rivers run. But the earth remembers. Even in the quiet of present-day at the memorial site, one can almost hear the shuffle of weary feet, the groans of the dying and the whispered words of encouragement exchanged between men who knew they would never see home again. Standing here, the air grows heavier – for this is sacred ground. The Sandakan Death Marches are not just a chapter of history; they are a warning etched in blood and bone. They remind us that peace must never be taken for granted. War is not a noble adventure, it is a brutal machine that strips away humanity, turning neighbour against neighbour, soldier against prisoner and man into beast. The men of Sandakan and Ranau endured the very worst of what war can unleash. To remember them is to commit ourselves to a world where such cruelty can never take root again. Their suffering and death must not be in vain. Lest we forget. Soldiers retrace the March to pay tribute Last year, personnel from Rifle Company Butterworth (RCB) Rotation 144 were honoured with an opportunity to spend four days retracing the steps of the Australian soldiers that came before them. For Captain Luke Gollschewski, the company's second-in-command, it was both humbling and confronting. 'It was an eye-opening experience,' he reflected. 'The Sandakan Death Marches are not something widely known, nor something most Australians truly grasp in its full significance. We only completed a fraction of what they endured, and we had water, food and regular rest. To think of what they went through, with none of those things, makes you wonder how they even managed to take another step.' The Sandakan Death Marches are aptly named. Even today, fit and trained soldiers would find its 260 kilometres of steep ascents, treacherous descents and dense jungle a formidable test. Yet for the prisoners of war, already skeletal from starvation and wracked by disease, it was a road of no return. As they walked, members of the company felt an unshakable mix of emotions: anger at the cruelty, sorrow for the suffering and a deep ache for the families who never saw their sons return. Along the way, they paused for historical lessons – not just of how the prisoners lived and died, but of the spirit they carried to the end. Local stories tell of Australian prisoners who never surrendered their dignity, who clung to courage and comradeship even as life ebbed away. They never stopped fighting, even in the face of death. Today, their footsteps echo still. And as long as they are remembered, they will not be lost to history. Lest we forget. The Woman Who Refused to Forget Sandakan The death marches, a cruel war crime cloaked in secrecy, were apparently concealed for decades before historian Lynette Silver's painstaking research revealed the true scale of the tragedy and the heroic suffering of those involved. She has made it her mission to tell the world about the tragedy. Her work inspired more than awareness, it sparked memorial action across generations. Lynette Silver will lead one of the largest groups of relatives yet to Sabah this year, a pilgrimage woven from threads of grief, pride and enduring love. Among them are descendants of men who perished in 1945. Over the years, the annual commemoration has grown beyond its beginnings. It now draws local communities, members of the Australian Defence Force (ADF), the Australian and British High Commissioner to Malaysia, and other dignitaries. Lynette Silver's painstaking research revealed the true scale of the tragedy and the heroic suffering of those involved. For Lynette, this journey began humbly. She organised small Anzac Day services for POW families at Sandakan, slowly building awareness until the Australian Government committed to an official service in Malaysia. That grassroots effort bloomed into a national event, carrying the stories of the fallen across oceans and generations. The Sandakan Memorial Park on the original POW camp grounds stands as a somber tribute to both prisoners and local civilians who suffered alongside them. At Ranau, the Last POW Camp Memorial is the final station of the 'POW Route' during the three death marches. The names of the 183 prisoners who perished at the last camp are etched into the memorial. The Last POW Camp Memorial in Ranau. From the sorrow of Sandakan has grown a legacy of hope – the Sandakan Memorial Scholarship Trust. The Trust honours the Australian and British POWs who died in the Sandakan Death Marches and the local people who risked their lives to help them. Founded in 2005 by the Trustees of the Sandakan Memorial Trust, it offers secondary school scholarships to girls from remote Kadazandusun villages in Sabah's interior, giving them the chance to study at St Michael's School in Sandakan. For girls, especially, it is life-changing; without it, many would remain in their villages, their talents unrealised. Students live in a hostel at St Michael's Church, learning not only academic subjects, but also about community and faith. It is a living memorial and a bridge of friendship – a promise of a brighter future born of tragedy. Kudos to the tireless work of Lynette Silver and the Trust. Enduring Bond of Friendship The Sandakan Death Marches, though born of unimaginable suffering, have forged an enduring bond between Australia and Sabah in Malaysia, anchored in the town of Sandakan. The shared history of sacrifice – of Australian and British POWs and of the local civilians who risked their lives to aid them – has created a legacy of respect, gratitude and remembrance. Each commemoration, whether through solemn services, memorial scholarships or the stories passed down, reaffirms this connection. I also recall during my time with IJM Plantations Bhd (IJMP), when we were promoting the sport of rugby in Sabah, we often invited and hosted Australian ruggers. Those exchanges were more than just sporting events; they were living bridges of friendship through sport that carried the same spirit of camaraderie and mutual respect born of history. My latest visit to the Sandakan Memorial was just last month, accompanied by a visiting priest from Uganda. I noticed the fresh facelift – the Interpretive Pavilion, first built in 1999, has been rebuilt and upgraded after years of wear in Sabah's tropical climate. Thoughtfully, it preserves the soul of the original: the front iron gates, the stained-glass window, and seats and floorboards fashioned from reclaimed timber. It feels renewed, yet still carries the same quiet nostalgia. We paused there in prayer, honouring the memory of those who suffered and perished. Eighty years on, the echoes of the Sandakan Death Marches still haunt these hills and rivers. They warn us that when peace is neglected, cruelty rushes in to fill the void. War is madness – a fire that consumed more than 2,400 lives here, and countless more across the world. We must guard peace with unblinking vigilance and humble hearts, so that understanding outshines hatred, and compassion overcomes cruelty. Let these graves and memories stand as a warning: this must never happen again. And as travellers fly in and out of Sandakan Airport, remember the sorrow beneath its tarmac. Once, it was not a gateway to paradise, but a runway to hell. Lest we forget – always, and again. NOTE: For those seeking a deeper understanding of this chapter of history, start with the many available video clips on the Sandakan Death Marches, including the six-part series 'The Last Survivor of Sandakan', which bring firsthand accounts to life with vivid clarity. Then, delve into Lynette Ramsay Silver's seminal work 'Sandakan: A Conspiracy of Silence' – a meticulously researched book that sheds light on the events and their lasting impact. Many other resources await those willing to explore further. For another recent reflection on the WWII persecution focused on men of faith – missionaries and laypeople, read 'Martyrs of One Fire, Witnesses in Two Lands' at Sandakan: Voices of the Unreturning Beneath the earth, beneath the skies, An aching truth before us lies. Where jungle paths once drank the pain, Now peace breathes soft – yet grief remains. They walked with hope through fire and dread, On hollow feet, by hunger led. From distant shores they came to stand, And gave their breath to this sad land. Sabahan hearts beat side by side, With strangers bound in fate and pride. Through whispering leaves, their courage calls, A beacon burning through night's walls. No stone, no cross, no written line, Can bind the depth of loss in time. Yet still we gather, year on year, To speak their names, to shed a tear. O hear, O world, this solemn cry – They walked to live, yet walked to die. Let Sandakan not fade away, But burn within each breaking day.
Irish Independent
16-05-2025
- General
- Irish Independent
Around the Districts: Ballyhea, Castlemagner and Freemount
Church Notes Mass Times - Thursday 15th May 10am; Friday 16th May 10am; Saturday 17th May 10am & 7.30pm; Sunday 18th May 8.30am & 11am Adoration & Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament will take place on Thursday after 10am Mass Holy Communion - Only those receiving Holy Communion should approach the Altar & only on a seat-by-seat basis. Anniversary Masses - Booked Anniversary Masses are accepted on the understanding that Funeral Masses and Month's Mind Masses take precedence. Month of May - The month of May dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary Feastdays for the coming week - Thursday 15th May St. Carthage; Friday 16th May St. Brendan, Abbot; Saturday 17th May St. Adrio; Sunday 18th May 5th Sunday of Easter. New Crucifix - The Parish has acquired a large out-door Crucifix from the Redemptorist Monastery in Esker, Co. Galway. To defray the purchase and transport costs a subscription list is now open for anyone who would like to support this initiative. Subscriptions may be left into the Sacristy at any time. Collectors for May - 7.30pm Vigil Mass: Eileen Hanley. 8.30am Mass: Jim Horgan. 11.00am Mass: Cathy O'Donoghue. Readers - Saturday 17th May: May Ger. O'Shea. Sunday 18th May: Mary Byrne. Saturday 24th May: Louisa Carroll. Sunday 25th May: Sheila Fennessy. Church Altar Flower Arrangers - Saturday 17th May: Theresa O'Keeffe. Saturday 24th May & Saturday 31st May: Gretta Donegan Kenny. Pilgrimage to Medjugorje – Leaving Cork on August 20 to September 4. Early booking offers available. Money can be paid in instalments to spread out the cost. For more information, please contact Mary Cott, Group Leader 086 1220850. Church gate collections – No church gate collection taken up at St Mary's Church, Ballyhea is endorsed by the parish. Any group or organisation intending to collect outside the church gates are asked to present copies of their permits in the sacristy, together with copies of letters of authorisation of those collecting on their behalf. This should be done before the collection commences. Parent and Toddler Group The parent and Toddler Group in Ballyhea is now meeting Friday mornings from 10 a.m. to midday in the Parish Hall. Coffee and tea is provided. €3 donation please. Ballyhea National School enrolment. Application forms (Admission notice) for September 2025 are available on the School Website ( or by calling to the office at Ballyhea NS Completed forms to be returned as soon as possible. Prospective parents may contact the school at 083 1475817 for further information or to facilitate a school visit. Healthy Eating information mornings. Further dates have been added for Healthy Eating information mornings at Ballyhea National School: Mondays May 19 and 26 from 9.30 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. Come along for information, tips, recipes, demos and mindful meditations to improve overall health' with Joanne O'Callaghan. GAA club news Lotto – The numbers drawn on 3rd May were 11, 12, 28. There was no winner of the Jackpot of €2800. Lucky tips winners: €30 Padraig Morrissey c/o Eamon Dundon, €30 Bernie Crowley c/o Bernie Crowley €30 Orfhlaith Ryan c/o Dave Ryan, Saturday Morning Lotto Get your tickets before 5pm on Saturday from Costcutters Ballyhea, Corbett Court, The Idle Hour or from any of the ticket sellers or they can be purchased online at Thank you for your continued support. The first 3 numbers of the National Lottery Main Draw will be the Jackpot numbers. If a number higher than 42 is drawn in the first 3, the draw will continue with the next number drawn under 42. The Club appreciates the support of lottery players and supporters during these difficult times and are very grateful for your continued support. Keep safe and the best of luck in draw! Club membership – Membership fees for 2025 are currently being taken. Anyone wishing to pay online can do so by going to and selecting Ballyhea Club. Memberhip can also be paid to any committee member. All players must have membership paid before the commencement of all competitions. Membership fees for 2025: Adult €75, Adult Player €100, Juvenile player/student €50, Family €150, OAP/Unwaged €30. Ballyhea in Black and White – 'Ballyhea in Black and White' is a collection of memories from local photographer Michael McGrath and photos that have been collected. It features some great GAA and camogie memories from down through the years. Books can be purchased at Costcutters shop in Ballyhea for €20. Online Shop – The club's online shop is proving to be very popular. All the latest club gear can be purchased from the O'Neill's website. Check it out at Ballyhea Community Alert Ballyhea Community Alert has successfully set up a Text Alert Network to immediately alert our community when an incident occurs. Prompt information to and from Gardaí deters criminal activity. If you are interested in becoming a member of our Text Alert Network please phone any of the following people for information and sign up details – Phil Ryan 087 2937465, Pat Daly 086 1220114, James Horgan 087 2572271, Willie Meaney 087 1936842, Con Walsh 086 8570355. The fee for this service is €10 annually. CASTLEMAGNER Bealtaine Evening Cabaret returns to Castlemagner The Castlemagner Sinsir Club is delighted to present its much-loved Bealtaine Evening Cabaret on Thursday, May 22nd at 8pm, as part of the annual Bealtaine Festival. This vibrant evening of entertainment will celebrate the creativity and vitality of our older generation, featuring a rich mix of storytelling, solo performances, and group singing from across the Duhallow region. Special guests include singing groups from Donoughmore and Tureencahill, alongside the Castlemagner Community Singing Group, all bringing their unique voices to the stage. In keeping with the reflective spirit of Bealtaine, the programme will also include screenings of locally produced documentaries that capture the essence of community and the season's themes. Held in a warm cabaret-style setting, with the audience seated at candlelit tables and served tea and light refreshments, it is a joyful celebration of the invaluable contribution older adults make to our lives, while also highlighting the power of music and singing to support wellbeing and mental health. All are welcome for what promises to be an uplifting and memorable evening. FREEMOUNT Weekly 45 Drive The weekly 45 Drive was well attended on Sunday night last. The following is a list of the lucky winners. Top prize went to Esther Hayes, Kilbrin and Eileen O'Sullivan, Kanturk. Ladies prize was divided between: 1 Eileen Scott and Delia Conroy, Churchtown; 2 Margaret and Theresa O'Regan, Kilmeedy. Gents prize was won by Frank O'Brien and John Mulcahy, Kilbrin. Mixed prize was won by Mary Noonan, Freemount and Paddy O'Leary, Glash. Spot Prize was won by Mike Scanlon, Feohanagh and Ben O'Sullivan, Freemount. The following won raffle prizes: 1 Maurice Healy, Liscarroll; 2 Paddy Hartnett, Newmarket; 3 Maurice Healy, Liscarroll; 4 Brendan O'Kelly, Ashford; 5 Maurice Healy, Liscarroll; 6 Michael O'Callaghan, Freemount. The 45 Drive continues every Sunday night at 8pm sharp. See you all then. Social Dancing Afternoon dancing continues every Sunday in Freemount Community Centre from 3pm to 5.30pm. All top bands are booked for the year ahead, so set your satnav (P56 P893) and head for Freemount and enjoy a great afternoon's dancing this Sunday May 18th, with music supplied by Bernie Heaney. Coming on Sunday May 25th is Stuart Moyles. Duhallow Heritage Society Duhallow Heritage Society are holding a Photography Exhibition 'Captured Memories: Kanturk in the 50's and 60's through the Lens of Danny O'Sullivan' at Kanturk Library from May 23rd to June 2nd (excluding Bank Holiday June 1st). Launch Night May 23rd, 7pm to 8.30pm. Everyone Welcome. Freemount Community Alert Freemount's Be Alert Text system is set up to help prevent suspicious or criminal activity in our community. The annual membership fee of €10 is now due. Renewal forms are available in Freemount shop or from Josephine (087 2255757). Alternatively you may renew online at and pay using debit/credit card or by PayPal. If renewing online, the Organisation name is Freemount Community Alert, Code FRE0001. We ask you to please join up to help us keep our community safe. Tidy Towns Committee A meeting of the Tidy Towns Team was held last week and a full plan of action has been drawn up. We will meet weekly on Wednesday evenings at 7pm at the Garden of Remembrance All volunteers are welcome and would be greatly appreciated Community Food Services Duhallow Community Food Services provide a home delivery meal service for the elderly or housebound. Meals can be booked on a long or short term basis. Dinner and desert €9.50 per day delivered to your door, Monday to Friday. Menu changes daily and special diets are catered for. Chilled meals are also available for you to heat up at home when required. For further details contact Orlaith/Olive at 029-76375. St Joseph's Church Lismire Mass in honour of St Pio will take place in St Joseph's Church, Lismire on Wednesday May 14th at 8pm. Recent Death The death took place recently of Martin Enright, formerly of Freemount. Martin was a very talented hurler and footballer for Freemount and played a vital role in a number of historic victories for the club. He was a key member of the first Freemount Juvenile team that won a Duhallow Juvenile Championship in 1982. A year later at the age of 16, he was the youngest member of the Freemount under 21 team that won its first ever Duhallow under 21 hurling and football championship. In 1988, he scored 1.1 in the Duhallow Junior Hurling Final Replay against Kilbrin when Freemount won its first ever Duhallow Junior Hurling Championship. Our sympathy to Martin's children Kieran, Martina and Sharon, their mother Geraldine, sister Mary, brothers John, Patsy, Brian, Jerry, Damien and Michael and extended family. May he rest in peace. Thursday Club The next get together of the Thursday Club will take place in Cois Abhann on Thursday May 29th at 2pm. Make a special effort to join us for 2025. Pioneers If anyone would like to join the P.T.A.A. or get a Gold (50 years)/Silver (25 years) Pin, please contact Mary on 087 9744500 or Eileen on 083 4042919. St Michael's Church Weekend Mass in Freemount will be at 6pm every Saturday evening. You can now tune into all Masses in St Michael's Church by tuning into Freemount Church on your phone, computer or tablet, as new equipment has been installed. This is great news for all those unable to attend Mass in Church. Mass on TV - Did you know that R.T.E. broadcast Holy Mass every morning on the News Channel (21) at 10.30 am, Monday to Friday. G.A.A. club news Lotto - Results for weekend May 11th. Numbers drawn were 3-7-12-36. There was no Jackpot winner. Lucky Dip winners were: 1. MaryO'Connell, Ballybahallow, Freemount. 2. Mike and Sadie O'Callaghan, Ballinla, Freemount. 3. Eileen Broderick, Knockeen, Freemount. 4. Graeme Kennedy, Glounicommane, Freemount. 5. Timmy Vaughan,Ballybahallow, Freemount. Jackpot this weekend is €2,000. If you are not in you can't win! Club app - Freemount GAA are delighted to announce the launch of our new app. This app is a one-stop-shop for all things Freemount GAA. Stay up to date with all local news, fixtures and results. Our GAA Lotto is now also available online through the app. To download the app, simply search 'Freemount GAA' in the app store or play store. Your support of the app would be greatly appreciated. Notes
