The Bendigo District RSL has commemorated one of the lesser known stories of World War Two - Sandakan - with a small ceremony.
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Sandakan was home to a prisoner of war camp and the starting point of three death marches that saw more than 2300 Australian and British soldiers killed. Only six prisoners of wars survived and many of the dead were not found.
Bendigo District RSL president Peter Swandale said it was important to acknowledge the Sandakan story.
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"It was hidden for many years and a lot wasn't known until after the war," he said. "A lot of the families to this day don't know the true story of what happened (to their relatives). (Historian) Lynette Silver has written many books on Sandakan and pieced information together for between 10 and 20 years."
One family travelled interstate to lay flowers at the Sandakan Memorial in Strathdale Park. They took time to remember their uncle Trooper Archie Fingher.
Mr Swandale said the RSL held an invitation-only service due to coronavirus restrictions.
"There would have been about 35 there this morning," he said. "It was invite only and people had to register, which made it easier to hold with the restrictions."
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