Kuching-born Cpl Lim Beng Hai, 22, a “Semut” volunteer from the Australian army’s Surveillance Reconnaissance Detachment (SRD), was appointed translator of the mission. Called the “Belaga Patrol”, his team included aristocratic chiefs from almost all the communities such as the Kenyah, Kayan, Kejaman, Lahanan, Ukit and Punan “Penghulu” and “Tuai Rumah” longhouse chiefs.

Among them were the notable Penghulu Oyong Puso, chiefs Lasah Abun, Layieng Joo, Dieng Lisut, Taman Laeng Wan, Taman Marieng Pasu, Baleng Abit. A St Thomas School student he was hand-picked because he was fluent in English, Malay, Mandarin and Iban as well as other native dialects. His scope of duties included assigning write details in report entitled “Report on Long Nawang 1942” which presented to the Australian Imperial Force.

In carrying out his duties Beng Hai gathered a large dossier of information which he used to pen his memoir which was only released in a book published in 2010. “Sarawak Under the Throes of War” is a wealth of information as it helped me formulate a definitive picture of the ordeal. After the three-week journey with longhouse stops along the way, Beng Hai painstakingly unveiled the grisly details of a horror story.

Interviewing the members of two Chinese families and Kenyah chiefs the poignant tale of Long Nawang has evolved in Borneo’s worst unsolved war crime. He wrote: “Carrying out their task in silence, personnel of the Belaga patrol scooped up the soft earth with their bare hands. The silence was broken by the low voice of Private Borhan Blissa (Kejaman Muslim) who held high a child’s canvass shoe.

“This time with a grimace, scooped up human phalanges with shreds of scarlet colour ligaments clinging to them. He did not shake off these relics of a child but held fast to them. “Regaining his composure, he slowly replaced them back with much reverence into the hole.” Beng Hai also visited the residence of Lt Westerhuis where he was killed and described the wooden bungalow as a scene of dried human blood on the floor and untouched European tea set and exotic chinaware on a table.

One of the untold stories of Long Nawangr was the “Imada Plan” proposal where the Japanese intended turn Long Nawang into a “fortress” for fleeing stragglers. The Imada plan fell flat because only two of scores of fleeing invaders; Captain Tanaka and private Kondo; made it Long Nawang to await the arrival of the 300 others who had surrendered. At Long Nawang Tanaka moved into one of the old Dutch bungalows with Kondo thinking the Kenyah would be cowed they ruthlessly massacred the 70 Europeans.

But he was mistaken. A “blood debt” had to be paid because Penghulu Oyong Lejau, the Lepo Tau chief was determined to settle the score. According to Lucas Bira the Long Nawang village headman Oyong Lejau gathered 11 of his bravest men—Larung Adjan, Surang Kule, Ibau Lawai, Pulang Anyie, Adjang Surang, Lalo Sulang, Ala Tului, Adjang Langet, Sulang Apui, Larong, Bila Larung and the strongest Gun Kila—to capture the duo.

Soon after Tanaka’s arrival, the Kenyah visited his residence to bring a fabricated story that a large group of Japanese from Long Pahangai were on their way to join him. When they arrived at his residence, the elated, Tanaka thanked the party and stretched out his arm to shake the hand of Gun Kila. Gun Kila grabbed in a powerful grip and in a short struggle wrestled him down.

Shortly after, Kondo who had gone for a walk returned and was detained. To wreak out vengeance, the wrists and ankles of both were broken and they were forced to crawl under the longhouse with the pigs. Both were then dragged along the narrow suspension bridge of loose planks and protruding rusty nails the to the site of the four graves.

Beng Hai said: “While Kondo shrieked and yelled in mournful pain, the captain upholding his integrity as a class of Bushido remained ever silent.” After stabbing and slashing the to death, they buried about 20 yards away from the mass graves. To commemorate the killings, the names of the 12 Kenyah “heroes” were etched in bronze wall of a concrete monument in the town centre. Beng Hai said:

“Lest we forget, personnel of the Belaga patrol were assigned the sad task of digging shallow soil in the mass burial sites. A commemorative service was to be held and arrangements had been made with a local priest Reverend Paul Nicholas from Sulawesi. On June 15, 1950 the Sarawak colonial government and Dutch decided to exhume the four European graves and re-inter the remains at Tarakan’s “Field of Honour.”