ANZAC MEMORIAL PRIMARY SCHOOL JESSELTON : THE ORIGIN OF SANZAC SCHOOL KOTA KINABALU

SEJARAH NORTH BORNEO SABAH

SPECIAL EDITION

SECOND WORLD WAR SERIES

ANZAC MEMORIAL PRIMARY SCHOOL JESSELTON : 

THE ORIGIN OF SANZAC SCHOOL KOTA KINABALU

LIBERATION OF BRITISH NORTH BORNEO

British North Borneo was the site of the last operation conducted by the 9th Australian Division during the Second World War. The ultimate objective of the operation, codenamed OBOE 6, was the liberation of British North Borneo, which had been occupied by the Japanese since 1942. Its immediate military purpose, however, was to secure Brunei Bay for use as a base by the British Pacific Fleet.

On 10 June 1945 the 24th Brigade of the 9th Australian Division landed on Labuan Island at the mouth of the bay, while its sister brigade - the 20th - landed on the Borneo mainland at Brunei point. The landings were virtually unopposed. The 24th subsequently cleared Labuan and crossed into British North Borneo, while the 20th Brigade leapfrogged down the Brunei (a British-protected state) coast, utilising watercraft as its main form of transport.

These movements resulted in a series of small-scale but relatively costly engagements. The Australian forces remained active until the end of the war on 15 August 1945. OBOE 6 killed 114 Australians and approximately 1,400 Japanese.

2/32ND INFANTRY BATTALION AUSTRALIA

The 2/32nd Infantry Battalion was unique in being one of only three Australian infantry battalions formed in the United Kingdom. In June 1940 a troop convoy carrying almost 8,000 Australians, sailing to Middle East to join the 6th Division, was diverted to Britain.

This force was based around the 18th Brigade and also consisted of infantry reinforcements and other support troops. In late-June it was decided these reinforcements and support troops would form the basis of a new infantry brigade, the 25th Brigade, for the 7th Division.

However, each battalion only had three rifle companies instead of the usual four.

The brigade’s three battalions were the 70th, 71st, and 72nd Battalions. The 71st Infantry Battalion, established on 27 June, became the 2/32nd on 28 October. The 70th and 72nd Battalions became the 2/31st and the 2/33rd Battalions respectively.

2/32nd reformed at Ravenshoe on the Atherton Tablelands in Queensland and undertook an extensive period of training. The war was almost over before the battalion went into action again.

In April 1945 the 9th Division was transported to Morotai, which was being used as a staging area in preparation for the 7th and 9th Divisions amphibious operations on Borneo. The 24th Brigade landed on Brown Beach on Labuan Island on 10 June. After 11 days of fighting the 2/28th and 2/43rd had cleared the island. Meanwhile, the 20th Brigade landed at Brunei Bay.

With the Japanese falling back in British North Borneo, the 9th Division commander decided to clear the Klias Peninsula and follow the railway from Weston to Papar. The 2/32nd had been in reserve during the earlier operations. On 17 June it crossed Brunei Bay in landing craft to Weston. The 2/43rd landed at Menumbok and the 2/11th Commando Squadron landed at Mempakul on 19 June.

By end of the first day, patrols from the 2/32nd had reached Lingkungan. The next day a platoon moved further inland along the railway from Weston to Maraba. Patrols also followed the Padas River, enabling the 2/32nd to advance on Beaufort. Similarly the 2/43rd moved on Beaufort via the Klias River. Beaufort was captured on 29 June. Thereafter, the 2/32nd moved along the railway towards Papar and on 10 July one of its companies made an amphibious landing south of the town. Papar occupied two days later.

Following the end of the war and Japan’s surrender, the ranks of the 2/32nd thinned, as men were discharged, transferred, or volunteered for the occupation force for Japan. Those who remained with the unit returned to Australia in January 1946 and the 2/32nd was disbanded at Ingleburn at the end of the month.

RECONSTRUCTION OF BRITISH NORTH BORNEO

The 9th Division was heavily involved in reconstructing British North Borneo from July onwards and rebuilt and re-established a considerable amount of civil infrastructure. The division developed a warm relationship with the local people and its efforts were recognised by the incorporation of the division's colour patch in the coat of arms of the new Colony of British Borneo.

FATHER AND FOUNDER OF SANZAC SCHOOL MR FRANCIS XAVIER LOH (b. 3.4.1931, d.19.1.1994)

Francis Xavier Loh born on the 3rd April 1931 married to Theresa Thien born 2nd February 1936. The couple blessed with 5 sons (Gus, Martin, Reg, John and George) and a daughter (Prisca). Francis migrated to Perth, Australia with his family in the 1980s.

As a local Jesselton's boy, Francis Loh who made himself indispensable to troops of 2/32nd Battalion in their work of reconstruction at war's end, was instrumental in the school establishment. He was great at climbing coconut trees and had other great skills. In a tribute to him the departing troops collected funds to enable him to resume his disrupted education in Perth, Australia

Francis gained sound education to commence work as a news reporter for local English newspaper, then moved to education on several regional Chinese School, General insurance in the 1960s and later became a very successful businessman. It was he who negotiated with the Sabah Government to acquire the site and to build the school in recognition of the help given to him by his "digger" mates.

Francis Loh for his vision, passion and dedication first took the initiative to build this first and probably the only "Monuments and Memorial" in the form of a School after the second world war in Sabah. It was built on the five acres of land at Sembulan, which had been generously donated by the State Government in 1966.

The construction of the school including reclamation of the land required approximately $200,000.00. Half of the amount had been donated by the Returned and Service League of Australia and other individual organisation in Australia and New Zealand. The other half of the cost was funded by Francis Loh personally. Francis also raised a fund locally through fun fairs and lion dances. Francis Loh had struggle through five years of labours and pains to fit every tiles in its place.

The completed Monuments and Memorial building consisted of seven classrooms and 30 feet height monument. The Monument had a structure of four pillars which depicts the national flags of three countries forming SANZAC, meaning Sabah, Australia and New Zealand Army Corps. Francis Loh handed over the school to the Education Department in 1971 and had been made the first Malay medium secondary school in Sabah.

"SANZAC, serve to create the past and inspiring memories for the future, such structures are embedded with recollection of heroic deeds of our fathers for us to cherish in thoughts. Similarly, the father of the school who took such pains to build the school must not be forgotten. " Vicky Ng.

The School also a memorial to all those who lost their life in the liberation of Sabah, 1941-1945.

LEST WE FORGET

Three of the original classrooms call Anzac Heritage Rooms.

Source :

1. Ryan Rowland - Borneo Exhibition Group

2. lohkokempire.blogspot.com

3. smk-sanzac.com

4. vickyng - news paper article 1979

5. Australia War Memorial www.awm.gov.au

Photos courtesy Ryan Rowland

Edited by : Kumis Kumis