SANDAKAN Memorial Service

In 1991, Mr Ted McLaughlin, an ex-POW of the Japanese and a resident of Boyup Brook erected a memorial in Boyup Brook in memory of three of his friends who had died at Sandakan in WW2, and to all those who had perished in Borneo. In September 1993, over 300 came to Boyup Brook for the dedication of the Memorial. Boyup Brook was the first place in Australia to erect a Sandakan Memorial. Each Year Collie Cardiff RSL Sub Branch attends the service in honour of Collie Boys who died at Sandakan.

This year the Collie Cardiff RSL President, Mr Gary Benton, attended the service and laid a wreath on behalf of our Sub Branch. The address by the President of the Boyup Brook RSL Sub Branch featured Collie Boy William Beard one of the four COLLIE boys who died at Sandakan.

The four Collie Boys were;

WX7883 Private William Herbert BEARD (died 10 July 1945, age 34 yrs, Sandakan No2 Camp).

WX16416 Private Charles HOLME (died 07 June 1945, age 23 yrs, the second Sandakan-Ranua death march).

WX17582 Private George LAKE (died 08 April 1945, age 23 yrs, Sandakan No1 Camp).

WX8548 Staff Sergeant Ian STUCHBURY (died 17 November 1944, age 42 yrs, Sandakan No 1 Camp).

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For more information checkout this link Sandakan Death Marches - Wikipedia

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Each year the sister of William Beard, Mrs June Edwards, who lives in Collie, also attends the service in recognition of her brother. Mrs Edwards is 99 years of age and has attended the Sandakan Service since its inception in 1993.

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                                                                                             Lest we Forget

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