"Stories through Memories" exhibition to be held in Brunei to mark war against Japan in WWII

Australian High Commissioner to Brunei Darussalam Todd Mercer said here on Monday that a multimedia exhibition entitled "Stories through Memories" will be held here from June 10 to 30, to mark the war against Japan in WWII.

In a press briefing, Mercer said the exhibition is part of a range of events being hosted by Australia to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Borneo campaign against Japanese occupying forces.

The exhibition will showcase stories through the memories of survivors who witnessed the tumultuous events of World War II ( WWII) in Brunei Darussalam and historical images of Australian forces' leading role in the 1945 liberation of Borneo, according to Mercer.

Liberating the people from Japanese occupation involved more than 75,000 Australians supporting the Oboe landings on Borneo from May to July 1945, including the largest Australian amphibious landing of the WWII.

However, it was at the cost of around 600 Australian soldiers, sailors and airmen, who died in combat, according to figures released by the Australian High Commission.

The exhibition involved participants from different ethnicities and backgrounds to reflect the various roles people had during the war.

Through 28 video interviews, currently, the youngest participant is 87 years old while the oldest is 100. These stories include: A son's sad memories of his father's imprisonment during the Japanese occupation; a Bruneian's experiences after enlisting to fight with the Japanese Imperial army; an Iban longhouse headman's recollections of his elders killing Japanese soldiers in a remote area of Brunei.

This oral history, multimedia research project depicts a key moment in Bruneian and Australian history through interviews with historians, journalists, and WWII survivors; historical research of the era and locations; and the creative reproduction of images, text, artifacts, and stories from the period.

Dr Janet Elizabeth Marles, senior lecturer and Program Leader Professional Communication and Media, told Xinhua in an interview that the exhibition is aimed at telling the young generation this part of history in Brunei during the WWII and let them know the experiences and sufferings of those who witnessed the Japanese occupation in the country.

She said students from at least five schools in Brunei will come to see the exhibition when the exhibition opens on June 10.

The research project team of eight researchers and assistant researchers consist of Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD undergraduates, postgraduates and teaching staff.

As a part of commemorative events, Australian Minister for Veterans' Affairs, Senator Michael Ronaldson, and a delegation of eight Borneo campaign veterans arrived here on Monday. The eight veterans represent all service arms and major aspects of the landings. They are aged from 89 to 96 years old and are from across Australia. Endi