Ultimate Sacrifice: The Tragic and Unaccounted Death of Catholic Missionaries in North Borneo Towards the End of WWII

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.