During World War Two, the Japanese took many thousands of Allied prisoners at the fall of Singapore. Most people are aware of the awfulness of the Burma-Thai Railway, and the terrible conditions of the Changi Prisoner of War Camp in Singapore. 

All of that pales when compared with the horrors of the Sandakan prisoner of war camp, and the subsequent Death Marches to Ranau in the interior. Of the 1,793 Australian and 641 British prisoners sent to Sandakan, only six Australians survived. These six owed their lives to the support of the local inhabitants, who also suffered terribly, but who risked all to help the escaping prisoners. A full account of this horrible story is to be found in Lynette Silver’s book, Sandakan A Conspiracy of Silence. Part of the Sandakan Camp is now preserved as a park and as a memorial to those dark days. 

As machinery enthusiasts, our interest lies in the remnants of camp infrast