North Borneo War Memorial, Granite war memorial in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia.
The North Borneo War Memorial is a granite obelisk about 2.5 metres tall in the Kota Kinabalu city park, standing on a base that was reshaped when the park was moved in the 1970s. A carved laurel wreath and the words "To The Glorious Dead 1914–1918" mark the stone, and a marble slab lists 13 names from the First World War. About 3 metres away, the former cannon base now holds a plaque instead of a gun.
The North Borneo Chartered Company erected the obelisk on 8 May 1923 in Bond Street, Jesselton, to commemorate 51 British soldiers killed in World War I; Major-General Sir Neill Malcolm unveiled it before HMS Hawkins and a guard of honour. After World War II it was extended to 61 Australian dead, and after the Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation to 61 Malaysian soldiers. In the 1970s the monument was moved with the city park to Jalan Pantai.
Every Anzac Day, a ceremony is held at the memorial to honour those who died for Sabah in any conflict. The monument also carries a plaque for victims of the Confrontation, and its original site on Bond Street was recalled in 2012 with a bamboo and tropical-wood replica during the "Bonding with Gaya Street" exhibition.
The memorial is located along Jalan Tugu opposite the City Hall building and is easy to reach on foot. It was moved from its original position on Gaya Street, so checking the current address helps ensure you find the right spot.
The memorial features bronze plaques specifically dedicated to Australian forces who fell during multiple conflicts. These plaques connect the stories of different nations in one location, showing the international scope of military struggles in the region.
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