About The Book
Three months to the end of WWII, confronted by the imminent seaborne invasion of North Borneo by overwhelmingly superior Allied forces, the desperate Japanese military chose to withdraw into the country’s interior where they would consolidate for a last stand around their commander Lt. Gen. Baba in Sapong, Tenom. On 18 May 1945, in direct preparation for the last stand, they decided to eliminate all dangerous anti-Japanese suspects who could disrupt their consolidation or provide incriminating evidence of Japanese atrocities. All Catholic missionaries in North Borneo were forcefully detained on 19 and 20 May 1945 and taken to Tenom. Detained together with them were also their three local servants. None of them were ever seen again. This book tells the harrowing story of why and how nine forthright and good men became innocent victims fated to pay the ultimate sacrifice.
About The Author
Born and bred in Jesselton (Kota Kinabalu) and fed with vivid stories of the Japanese Occupation from his grandparents since childhood, Rev. Cosmas Lee has been a priest of the Catholic Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu for 48 years. He received his training in Jesselton, Singapore, Rome, and London. After specializing in the Liturgy, he taught at the major seminaries in Penang and Kuching. He returned to Sabah in 1991, and served as parish priest in Keningau, Kota Kinabalu, and Tawau. He is presently at St. Simon Catholic Church Likas, Kota Kinabalu, since 2008. Forced by circumstances to research and write on the history of his own beloved parish, the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart Kota Kinabalu on the occasion of its centenary celebration in 2003, he got interested in the history of the Church in North Borneo.
