AUSTRALIA’S WORLD WAR TWO EXPERIENCE IN BORNEO
Borneo, a vast jungle covered island, was the scene of some of Australia’s most successful military operations in World War Two, and the site of one of our greatest tragedies.
The Sandakan Death March
Australia’s wartime experience in Borneo began in January 1942 when some 2000 Australian prisoners of war were transported by the Japanese from Singapore to a prisoner of war camp at Sandakan. These prisoners were to be used as forced labourers to build an airstrip. Food and medical attention was scarce, while their treatment by their Japanese captors was harsh. By 1944 conditions in the camp had deteriorated. The Japanese, after the discovery of a clandestine radio, several escape attempts and a failed local uprising, decided to move the prisoners further inland – to be known as the ‘Sandakan Death March’. In early January 1945, 455 of the ‘fittest men started the 260 kilometre forced march to Ranau. Another group of 536 men followed in May, while the remaining prisoners at the Sandakan Camp died of starvation, mistreatment or murder. Of the 991 prisoners who started the march, only some 200 reached the new camp at Ranau in June. By late July only 32, and in August as few as 15. These last few men were reportedly shot. Only six Australians were to survive the Sandakan Death March.
Battle of Tarakan (Operation Oboe One)
Tarakan was a small island located in the north-eastern corner of Borneo. The town and its oil fields were primary objectives when the Japanese invaded in 1942, and again was deemed important when it came for the Allies to invade Borneo. Operation Oboe One was to provide key airfields that the Allies could use to aid the upcoming campaign against Borneo, and provide the additional oil production capability.
The operation opened when Allied air forces attacked Japanese positions from 11 to 29 April. Naval minesweepers cleared paths for the amphibious assault from 27 to 30 Apr. On 30 April, Australian commandos and engineers landed to clear beach obstacles. On 1 May, the Australian 26 Infantry Brigade, 9th Division landed west of Tarakan and secured the beachhead, suffering light casualties, for follow-on forces to land. The Brigade encountered fierce resistance from the Japanese Tarakan airfield defences, not capturing it until 5 May. The town of Tarakan fell the next day.
By 15 May, Tarakan was declared secure, but Japanese resistance continued to harass Australian troops until 14 June when the remaining Japanese forces withdrew to Borneo. Those who remained on the island made a last organized counteroffensive on 19 Jun, which resulted in failure. Australia lost 250 soldiers during this operation.
Battle of Brunei and Northern Borneo (Operation Oboe Six)
The Australian 20th and 24th Infantry Brigades, 9th Division augmented with American troops landed in Brunei, seizing Labuan Island and the Sultanate of Brunei on 10 June. The Japanese, who had expecting a landing further down the coast, were taken by surprise, however, offered stiff resistance until overrun on 16 Jun. This was to be the most complex amphibious operation Australian forces were to conduct, with landings on four beaches simultaneously. Australia lost 115 soldiers during this operation.
Battle of Balikpapan (Operation Oboe Two)
On 1 July 1945, the Australian 7th Division made an amphibious landing a few miles north of Balikpapan after heavy air and naval bombardment, to seize the strategic town and its oil refinery. The Japanese defenders offered only sporadic resistance around Balikpapan; however, resistance was increasingly met as the Australian forces advanced toward Samerinda long the Milford Highway and around the airstrip at Manggar. By 21 July Japanese resistance was considered defeated, though small groups of Japanese continued to harass Australian troops for the next couple of weeks. Australia lost 230 soldiers during this operation.
-Fred Dangar