[2] His idea was for the memorial to commemorate the 2,428 Australian and British prisoners who died during World War II at the Sandakan POW Camp, and the casualties of the three death marches.

[2] However, due to insufficient revenue for upgrading as the memorial covers a large area, it fell into disrepair even though the Sabah state government injected some funds in 1995.

[2][7] The memorial is divided into four interconnecting but separate areas that are connected by a trail, namely: The first three gardens represent the home countries of the victims.

There is also a panel documented in English and Malay with the title "The history of British and Australian prisoners of war in Sabah" created by artist Ross J. Bastiaan in 1998.

A black marble slab with the flag of the United Kingdom bears this inscription: Dedicated To The Lasting Memory Of The 641 British Servicemen Who Died In Terrible Circumstances In The Sandakan Prisoner Of War Camp On The Death Marches And At Ranau 1943–1945 They Shall Grow Not Old, As We That Are Left Grow Old Age Shall Not Weary Them, Nor The Years Condemn At The Going Down Of The Sun And In The Morning We Will Remember Them.