Wednesday, November 30, 2005

Japanese in Batu Lintang



The Japanese during the Second World War established an internment camp in Borneo Island.

This Batu Lintang camp (Lintang Barracks and Kuching POW camp) housed both Allied prisoners of war (POWs) and civilian internees.

This camp operated from March 1942 until the liberation of the camp in September 1945.



Before the Japanese conqueror came to this place was originally British Indian Army barracks. The Japanese extended the area to 50 acres (20 hectares).

The camp population fluctuated, due to movement of prisoners between camps in Borneo, and as a result of the deaths of the prisoners.

It had a maximum population of some 3,000 prisoners.

Batu Lintang camp : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batu_Lintang_camp



Our house was just 1 Km to this  location of Japanese camp. We lived in Batu Lintang Government Quarters Area 10 minute walk to Batu Lintang Teacher College where the POW Camp was located during the war time.




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