Labuan World War 2 Memorial
The Labuan War Cemetery is the largest of its kind in Malaysia. ©CEphoto

The Labuan War Cemetery is the final resting place of more than 3900 World War II heroes from Australia, Britain, India, New Zealand and Malaya, now known as Malaysia.

It is regularly visited by war veterans and families of those who perished during the Battle of Borneo (1941-42), the Borneo Campaign of 1945 and the Death Marches from Sandakan to Ranau.

Each year, an elaborate ceremony called Remembrance Day is held in honour of the warriors who lost their lives during World War II.

Remembrance Day takes place on 11th November or the Sunday closest to it and is conducted in full military tradition.

Also found within the complex is the:

  • Labuan Memorial, consisting of a colonnade forming a forecourt immediately inside the wrought iron gates of the main entrance to the cemetery; and
  • Labuan Cremation Memorial, commemorating 34 Indian Army soldiers killed during the fighting in Labuan or who died in Labuan while prisoners of war under the Japanese, and were accorded the last rite required by their religion – committal to fire. Standing immediately in front of the Indian Army plot in Labuan War Cemetery, it takes the form of a stone pylon with four faces, surmounted by an urn.

Gallery

Visitor information

The cemetery lies on Jalan Tanjong Batu road which leads from the airport to town. It is less than 1km from the airport and about 3km from Victoria (Bandar Labuan), the island’s town centre.

Staff from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) are on site Monday to Friday from 07:00 to 16:30.

The Labuan Botanical Gardens and Gurdwara Sahib Temple are located close by.

Map

This Post Has One Comment

  1. Vivian Albert Keay

    Hi I am trying to get pictures of grave/plaque for Vivian Albert Keay. Australia solder, died Borneo 10 May 1945, 39 years old. Thank you for your help. Kind regards, Jenny Keay

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