In 1960, two soldiers from the Royal British Army's Service and Medical Corps tragically drowned when they were swept away by strong currents while attempting to cross the lower Tamparuli Bridge. The soldiers who perished were Pte Hall and Cooper. The image above is a clipping from a 1962 book, and a monument was erected in 1961 to commemorate this tragedy.
The Tamparuli Memorial, erected in 1961, commemorates a tragic event that occurred on May 18, 1960. On that day, two British soldiers, Pte Hall and Cooper, from the Royal Army Service Corps and the Royal Army Medical Corps, were transporting a severely injured Dusun woman from Sayap village to the hospital in Jesselton (now Kota Kinabalu). As they reached the Tamparuli Bridge, they found that the river had flooded the main route to the hospital.
Despite the dangerous conditions, the soldiers attempted to cross the bridge in a military Land Rover. Tragically, the strong currents swept the vehicle away, and all three passengers drowned. This heartbreaking incident claimed the lives of two British soldiers and a local woman.
The monument, built on September 6, 1961, still stands strong and is well-maintained by the authorities. It serves as a reminder of the bravery and sacrifice of the soldiers involved in the incident.
Sources: COLONY OF NORTH BORNEO ANNUAL REPORT, 1960
- Tragic Incident by Mr Anthony Catherall: It recounts a tragic incident where two Army personnel and a native woman lost their lives while attempting to cross a flooded river at Tamparuli.
- Memorial: A public subscription was raised to commemorate the bravery of the soldiers involved in the incident
