The Sentinel of Sandakan: My Proudest Achievement
By Ernest Reginald Baker
When I first arrived in North Borneo in 1914 to serve as an Assistant Engineer in the P.W.D. under Mr. Budden, I knew I was joining a government that was building a nation from the ground up. My days were spent designing wharves, jetties, and overseeing the layout of the town’s very infrastructure. But of all the structures I helped bring to life, none commanded as much respect as the one that watched over the sea.
In the world of maritime engineering, the safety of a harbor is measured by its light. I was personally tasked with the superintendence of the erection of a 25-mile range lighthouse. To a layman, 25 miles is just a number; to a navigator approaching our rugged coast through the dark, it is the difference between a safe arrival and a disaster on the reefs.
This was a 3rd Order lighthouse, a designation that speaks volumes to those of us in the profession. A 3rd Order lens is a magnificent piece of optical engineering—large enough to cast a powerful, focused beam that can pierce the humid tropical haze. Overseeing its "erection" was a feat of precision. It wasn't just about the height of the tower, but about ensuring the delicate mechanism and the heavy glass lenses were perfectly aligned to reach that 25-mile horizon.
Concrete Proof: The 25-Mile Lighthouse
On the final line of his handwritten statement, there is the definitive written proof I have been searching for all this time: "Document Provided by Richard Rose"
"...also the superintendence of erection of a 25 mile range lighthouse 3rd order."
Beyond the tower itself, my work extended to the very water’s edge. I was responsible for the design and construction of the wharves and jetties that these ships would eventually dock at once the lighthouse had guided them home.
In those years, Sandakan was growing into a world-class port. Whether I was surveying for a 30-million-gallon reservoir or building timber bridges with 40-foot spans, the lighthouse remained the crown jewel of my tenure. It wasn't just a project in a ledger; it was a beacon of progress for North Borneo, and I am honored to have been the man who saw it stand tall.
Why this "3rd Order" detail is so important?
In 1916, a 3rd Order lens was a high-tier piece of equipment, usually reserved for major coastal points or busy harbor entrances. By Baker mentioning this specifically in his ICE statement, he was telling the Institution that he wasn't just building small markers; he was handling international-standard navigational aids.
The Master of All Trades
When Baker arrived in 1914, Sandakan was a place of immense potential but even greater challenges. Working as an Assistant Engineer under the P.W.D., Baker didn’t just specialize in one field; he built the entire skeleton of the town:
1. The Arteries: He conducted the preliminary surveys for a 400-mile Trunk Road, a Herculean task through the thick Bornean jungle.
2. The Lifeline: He surveyed and oversaw the construction of a 30-million-gallon reservoir, ensuring the people of Sandakan had the water they needed to thrive.
3. The Social Fabric: From the local hospital and asylum buildings to the very sewers beneath the streets, Baker’s signature was on every brick.
The Crown Jewel: The 3rd Order Lighthouse
But perhaps his most enduring achievement was what he called the "25-mile range lighthouse 3rd order".
In the shipping world, the entrance to Sandakan Harbour was notoriously difficult. Baker took on the "superintendence of the erection" of this massive navigational aid. Using a 3rd Order Fresnel lens—a five-foot-tall masterpiece of glass prisms—he created a beam so powerful it could be seen 25 miles out at sea.
This lighthouse didn't just prevent shipwrecks; it opened Sandakan to the world. It turned a remote harbor into a global port where massive steamers could safely dock at the wharves and jetties that Baker himself had designed.
A Heart That Never Left Borneo
Mr. Baker’s connection to Sandakan wasn't just professional; it was deeply personal. After decades of service, he eventually returned to England in 1949. But he couldn't leave his memories behind. He named his home in Sussex "Sandakan," a tribute to the town he helped build and the light he helped shine.
Today, when you look out toward the entrance of the harbor, remember the young engineer who stood there over a century ago. He didn't just build a lighthouse; he built the gateway to our history.
References:
1. The Exact Location: Pulau Berhala
The 3rd Order Dioptric Light required a high elevation to achieve a 25-mile visibility range.
The Site: It was built on the summit of the sheer sandstone cliffs at the northern end of Berhala Island.
The Reason: Tanjung Papat is at sea level. A lighthouse at sea level cannot be seen from 25 miles away due to the curvature of the earth. By placing the 3rd Order Lens on the Berhala cliffs (about 600 feet high), the light could reach the horizon as required by the Admiralty.
2. The Role of Tanjung Papat (Tanjung Pappa)
Tanjung Papat is the headland on the mainland, located about 1 to 2 miles south of Berhala.
The Infrastructure: In 1914, Tanjung Papat had "Leading Lights" or smaller harbor markers. These were used for the second stage of navigation—once a ship had passed Berhala, it used the markers at Tanjung Papat to steer into the inner Sandakan wharf.
Baker's Scope: As an Assistant Engineer, Baker would have been responsible for both, but the "3rd Order" engineering feat you are highlighting specifically belongs to the Berhala Lighthouse.
3. Why "Tanjung Papat" appears in some records
In many PWD reports, the entire entrance to the bay was sometimes referred to as the "Tanjung Papat entrance." However, if the document mentions "3rd Order" and "25-mile range," it is a scientific certainty that the location is Berhala Island.
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