It was saturday and we intended to buy sayur at the Kundasang vegetables stalls before we head back to KK but my daddy asked us whether we would like to visit the garden which is called Kundasang War Memorial Park. Nobody opposed and yes went there and spent say about 2 hours either to just take a look or take pictures.
The Kundasang War Memorial is located near the renowned vegetable market in Kundasang Village. It was established as a tribute to World War II prisoners of war who died during the Sandakan Death Marches in 1945.
Major G.S. Carter, D.S.O. (Toby Carter) a New Zealander employed with Shell Oil Co. (Borneo) initiated the building of the Memorial in 1962, together with the launching of Kinabalu Park; to remember the 2,428 Australian and British prisoners who died during the World War II at the Sandakan POW Camp, and the casualties of the 3 infamous forced death marches i.e. Sandakan-Ranau Death March from Sandakan to Ranau. On top of that, it is also a tribute to the many locals who risked their lives while releasing the prisoners of war. Only 6 Australians recorded survived in this tragedy to tell their horror and no English survivors were recorded.
The ‘fort-like’ Memorial was designed by a local architect by the name of J.C. Robinson. It has 4 interlocking but separate gardens to represent the homelands of those who has died: an Australian Garden, a formal English Garden of roses, a Borneo Garden with wild flowers of Kinabalu and at the top level is the ‘Contemplation Garden’ with a reflection pool and pergola.
The Memorial was beautifully restored in 2005 privately by Mr. Sevee Charuruks & with funding provided by the Malaysian Government and also some from the Aus Government & individuals. The Gardens are replanted with flowers, particularly roses and rare orchids that includes the much sought after valuable Rothchild’s slipper orchids. The memorial is open to local and foreign visitors not only to view the perfect gardens but to remember those who sacrificed their lives for the Freedom of others.
