BERHALA ISLAND, NORTH BORNEO 1945-10-23. A SMALL PARTY CONSISTING OF VX108088 CAPTAIN L. G. ...

BERHALA ISLAND, NORTH BORNEO 1945-10-23. A SMALL PARTY CONSISTING OF VX108088 CAPTAIN L. G. DARLING, PRISONER OF WAR LIAISON OFFICER 9TH DIVISION; SQUADRON LEADER BIRCHALL RAAF; CAPTAIN HOUGHTON, WAR GRAVES; AND CAPTAIN MCLAREN MC, SERVICES RECONNAISSANCE DEPARTMENT (SRD), VISITED BERHALA ISLAND IN SANDAKAN HARBOUR. THIS ISLAND, THE SITE OF THE FORMER BRITISH QUARANTINE STATION AND LEPER COLONY, WAS USED BY THE JAPANESE TO HOUSE ALLIED PRISONERS OF WAR AND INTERNEES. QX21058 PRIVATE R. K. MCLAREN, 2/10TH FIELD WORKSHOPS, LATER CAPTAIN "Z" SPECIAL FORCE, WAS CAPTURED IN SINGAPORE IN 1942. HE ARRIVED AT BERHALA ISLAND ON 1943-04-26 AND ESCAPED FROM THERE ON 1943-06-04, THE EVENING BEFORE THE JAPANESE MOVED THE PRISONERS TO THE SANDAKAN PRISONER OF WAR CAMP. HE WENT TO TAWITAWI WHERE HE AND HIS FELLOW ESCAPEES JOINED THE GUERRILLA MOVEMENT. CAPTAIN MCLAREN IS SEATED IN THE BOW OF A LAUNCH AS IT APPROACHES BERHALA ISLAND.