SANDAKAN was to be the starting point of one of the great atrocities of  World War Two in the Far East - ``The Murderous Death Marches",  when only six Australians, were to survive the marches to RANAU from the hundreds of British and Australians that set out at the start.

There is still uncertainty in my mind as to how and where my father died.  The Commonwealth War Graves Commission,  and his headstone on the island of LABUAN,  put his date of death as December 1944, which would put death before the Sandakan/Ranau Death March.  However,  Don Wall's excellent book about the whole Sandakan affair, lists No. 1653779 Gnr. Harold R.R. 95 Bty 48 LAA as having  died at Sandakan on the 31^st March 1945,  just about the time of the Marches.

I have twice visited the island of Labuan and each time have been received in the most friendly and helpful way by the residents.  Each visit has given me more knowledge as to the fate of my father and many other POWs.  My wife, Peggy  and I are privileged to be planning a further trip to Labuan in April 2001,  this time in the company of several members of COFEPOW (who have become very great friends of ours).  I would like to add that the cemetery in Victoria,  Labuan is a very well cared for place - as Peggy wrote in her diary on the night of our first visit  ``The most beautiful place in the world"

I am Antonie S. Harold   (Tonie)