A daughter's Long Journey: Linda pays tribute to father killed by Japanese army in Miri during WWII
MIRI (June 13): A group of 60 people gathered today at the World War II Memorial Park in Miri to pay tribute and lay wreaths in remembrance of the 28 victims executed by the Japanese during their occupation 80 years ago.
Among those present was 87-year-old Linda Bodestyne Fluhart, whose father, John Bodestyne, was one of the 28 martyrs executed on June 13, 1945 by the notorious Kenpeitai (Japanese military police).
It took Linda 72 years to locate her father's final resting place in Miri.
Marking the solemn 80th anniversary of the execution, she attended the memorial with her two daughters, Lesley Carnegie and Sandy.
Her third daughter, Adeline Carnegie of Perth, was unable to attend.
(From second left) Yii with Linda and her family at the Miri World War II Memorial Park.
The memorial park, nestled between SMK St Columba and the Gymkhana Club, served as the backdrop for the poignant ceremony.
Miri Mayor Adam Yii Siew Sang led the wreath-laying at the tomb of the 28 martyrs, whose names were first inscribed on a copper plaque by Miri's Chinese community.
The service was organised by St Columba Parish and officiated by retired Bishop Solomon Cheong. Japanese soldiers lead Memorial Park miri occupation World War II WWII
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
6 hours ago
- The Sun
Japan urges evacuation of small island as 1,000 quakes hit region
TOKYO: Japanese authorities urged the 89 residents of a small southern island to evacuate after a strong earthquake on Thursday, the latest of more than 1,000 recent jolts to hit the area. Residents were urged to evacuate to 'a school playground in Akuseki Island', a municipal official told AFP. Akuseki is part of the Tokara island chain south of Kyushu region, which has been rattled by 1,031 quakes since June 21. No major damage has been reported. On Thursday, a 5.5 magnitude quake struck near Akuseki. The previous day a jolt of the same size was also recorded. Seven of the 12 remote Tokara Islands are inhabited, with around 700 residents in total. There was no tsunami risk from Thursday's quake, according to Ayataka Ebita, director of the earthquake and tsunami observation division of the Japan Meteorological Agency. 'In areas where the tremors were strong, there is an increased risk of collapsed houses and landslides,' he told reporters. 'Please be aware of earthquakes of similar magnitude for the foreseeable future,' he said. A similar period of intense seismic activity in the Tokara area occurred in September 2023, when 346 earthquakes were recorded, according to the JMA. Japan is one of the world's most seismically active countries, sitting on top of four major tectonic plates along the western edge of the Pacific 'Ring of Fire'. The archipelago, home to around 125 million people, typically experiences around 1,500 jolts every year and accounts for about 18 percent of the world's earthquakes. In 2011, a magnitude-9.0 quake triggered a tsunami that left 18,500 people dead or missing and caused a devastating meltdown at the Fukushima nuclear plant. Quakes are extremely hard to predict, but in January a government panel marginally increased the probability of a major jolt in the Nankai Trough off Japan in the next 30 years to 75-82 percent. The government then released a new estimate in March saying that such a 'megaquake' and subsequent tsunami could cause as many as 298,000 deaths and damages of up to $2 trillion. This week, the government released a report saying much more needed to be done to prepare for such a megaquake. Some foreign tourists have held off coming to Japan due to unfounded fears fanned by social media that a major quake is imminent. Causing particular concern is a manga comic reissued in 2021 which predicted a major disaster on July 5, 2025. 'We are aware that such tales are circulating, but that is a hoax,' Ebita at the JMA said. 'With today's science and technology, it is not possible to predict earthquakes.' – AFP
Malaysia Sun
6 hours ago
- Malaysia Sun
Update: China to launch exhibition for 80th anniversary of victory against Japanese aggression, fascism
BEIJING, July 3 (Xinhua) -- China will open a themed exhibition on July 7 to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. Held at the Museum of the War of Chinese People's Resistance Against Japanese Aggression in Beijing, the exhibition will feature 1,525 photographs and 3,237 artifacts, said Luo Cunkang, curator of the museum, at a State Council Information Office press conference Thursday. It will become part of the museum's permanent display. Divided into eight sections, the exhibition employs a range of modern display techniques to bring history to life, combining rare artifacts, archival documents, historical footage, artworks, and immersive recreations of key moments. The exhibition traces the 14-year war of resistance against Japanese aggression from 1931 to 1945, highlighting how the Chinese people, under the Communist Party of China (CPC)-led national united front, fought for survival, national revival, and a broader struggle for human justice, Luo said. The display features newly found documents that reveal how the CPC was the first to initiate armed resistance against Japan and emerged as the vanguard of the nation's war effort. The Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression was the first to break out and lasted the longest in the World Anti-Fascist War, resulting in over 35 million Chinese military and civilian casualties. In the main Eastern battlefield in the global fight against fascism, China's resistance effort was decisive in defeating Japanese fascism and supporting other fronts in Europe and Asia, profoundly contributing to the final victory and world peace.
Focus Malaysia
13 hours ago
- Focus Malaysia
'Our country, our land': MACVA calls for Malaysian Chinese youth participation in military
THE Malaysian Armed Forces Chinese Veterans Association (MACVA) has expressed support for the recent call by Armed Forces chief General Tan Sri Mohd Nizam Jaffar for greater participation of non-Bumiputera communities into the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM). Citing official data, MACVA said of the 509 newly commissioned officer cadets, only eight are of Chinese descent. This low figure is a matter of concern and reflects the need for greater Chinese representation in the national defence sector. 'A military career is no easy path, but it builds character, instills discipline, develops leadership, and most importantly, provides young people with a chance to directly participate in nation-building and take on the noble responsibility of protecting the rakyat,' said its president Lt. Col. (Rtd) Wong Ah Jit. According to Wong, Chinese forefathers once proudly served and defended the nation, leaving behind a legacy of honour and sacrifice. 'Today's generation should carry forward this tradition and ensure the Chinese community continues to have a voice, presence, and contribution within the armed forces,' he stressed. 'Joining the military does not mean giving up on one's dreams. It means choosing a different path—one filled with broader horizons and greater challenges. 'Whether in the jungles of Sabah, the waters of the Malacca Strait, or on international peacekeeping missions, military personnel are the nation's protectors and part of a diverse, united society.' Wong went on to call on Chinese families and community organisations nationwide to support their youths in exploring the path of military service and to encourage them to don the uniform with pride and build a meaningful career in national defence. 'This is our country, our land—and national defence should never be without the presence and contribution of the Chinese community,' he remarked. On June 24, the ATM marked a historic milestone as Mejar Jeneral Datuk Johnny Lim Eng Seng was promoted to the rank of Leftenan Jeneral, making him the first Chinese senior officer to attain the prestigious three-star rank in the country's military. ‒ July 3, 2025 Main image: Defence Ministry
