Roll Call and the Empty Wreath
Burning the Gum Leaves

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In 1942, when troops of the Australian Division were garrisoned in Malaya, families often included gum leaves in parcels sent to their loved ones.  The men tossed the leave onto the fire at night, the distinctive smell of the burning eucalyptus reminding them of home.

Gum leaves have been burnt by relatives of prisoners of wars who died in Borneo at services held in Sabah and Australia since 1996. Today the leaf burning will be conducted by two Australian POW relatives and two members of the local community, as a act of remembrance for the men who died at the Last Camp, and to remind us also of the great friendship which exists between Australians and the people of Sabah, many of whom risked their lives to help our prisoner of war.