Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

When walking through the Labuan War Cemetery on my recent visit, I came across the graves of Albert Neil Cleary VX52128 and Walter ‘Wally’ Gardner Crease NX38584. In any book about Sandakan and the Death Marches, the story of Gunners Cleary and Crease is always mentioned.

Both men were members of the 2/15th Field Regiment and survived the first Death March from Sandakan to Ranau in January 1945. On March 4 they escaped from their camp in Ranau, and were recaptured about a week later.

Gunner Crease managed to escape again the following day, but was soon recaptured and shot.

As for Gunner Cleary, well his death is quite confronting and very sad. You can read more about his story at the link below.

It was a feeling of sadness for me when I came across their graves. They died in such horrific circumstances. Standing there in front of their graves brought a brutal reality to their wartime experiences. They weren’t just two characters in a book. Their stories were real. Their experiences were real. They were real. Courtesy of Australian World War 2 POWs in Nagasaki.

They will never be forgotten.

https://anzacportal.dva.gov.au/history/conflicts/australias-war-19391945/resources/australian-prisoners-war-19401945/gunner-cleary