LOCAL singer/songwriter Garry Rose from the Briagolong Bush Band has had one of his songs played at the wreath-laying ceremony in Sandakan, Borneo, Malaysia, at the annual commemoration service marking the end of the Second World War.

A memorial obelisk was erected several years ago at Sandakan and two memorial services are performed each year – one on Anzac Day and another on August 15, marking the date of the Japanese surrender.

The song was played on the ABC’s ‘Australia All Over’ on Anzac Day and came to the attention of Ryan Rowland from Western Australia, chairman of the Borneo Exhibition & Education Group, which organises tours to the site. He arranged to have the song played at the ceremony.

Attended by the British and Australian High Commissioners and the Australian Minister for Veterans Affairs and other dignitaries, Mr Rose said it was a great honour to have his song ‘Sandakan The Last March’ featured in such a way.

“I feel honoured and proud that someone has found what I’ve written to be relevant to such an occasion,” he said.

“The song tells the poignant story of the infamous death marches where 2000 Australian and British POWs were forced by the Japanese into the hills away from a possible Allied landing.

“Only six escaped to tell the tale, the rest died from disease, maltreatment or were shot,” he said.

“It has been classed as the worst single atrocity inflicted on Australian troops in WWII, often overshadowed by the also-infamous Burma railway.”

Mr Rose said ‘Sandakan The Last March’ from his latest album Make Your Move came about after buying a book about the event from a second-hand book stall at the Maldon Folk Festival.

“It was signed by the author Don Wall and Keith Botterill, who was one of six survivors,” he said.

“The compelling story really struck me and the song developed from that.”

 

The Sandakan Memorial Park obelisk reads:

Sandakan Memorial

In Remembrance Of All Those

Who Suffered and Died Here,

On The Death Marches

And At Ranau

 

The Make Your Move album is available from Garry Rose by phoning 0439 454 428, or via the Briagolong Bush Band Facebook page.

Garry Rose.