One Crowded Moment of Glory: The Kinabalu Guerrillas and the 1943 Jesselton Uprising,

The Japanese occupation of Singapore and Peninsular Malaysia is well studied, but the experience of the Borneo states in the same period has generated considerably less attention. In consequence, the anti-Japanese 'uprising' that took place in Sabah in October 1943 is mentioned only in passing in national histories of Malaysia, and is almost invariably overlooked in surveys of the Second World War in Southeast Asia. Yet as this book reminds us, the Jesselton uprising stands out in regional terms because it was led entirely by civilians, developed after the Japanese had occupied Sabah, and (unlike the MPAJA in the Peninsula or the Hukbalahap in the Philippines) had no links with Communism. On the other hand, any objective assessment will conclude that a small band of poorly armed guerrillas had virtually no chance of success against more formidable enemy forces, and the 'crowded moment of glory' refers to the brief interlude when the guerrillas were able to hold Jesselton before the Japanese regained control. Retribution for those who were captured or suspected was swift and unforgiving, and memories of torture and execution at Japanese hands are woven into the fabric of Sabah history.

This book, written by Danny Wong Tze Ken, an internationally respected historian, is the product of a decade of dedicated research, a commitment in part explained by the fact that his grandfather was a medic for the guerrillas and died in Japanese captivity. While it is not the first account of the Jesselton uprising, it supersedes all earlier studies because the author has been able to extract so much relevant detail from newly released archival documents in Malaysia, the United Kingdom and Australia. These details have been skilfully combined with analyses of previous accounts, together with information from untapped Japanese sources, newspapers, unpublished memoirs and personal notes to which Wong was given special access, and above all, interviews with guerrillas themselves. Of course, this does not mean that all questions have been answered; for instance, key documents, such as the official file on the uprising, disappeared during the war, and relevant Japanese Kempetai reports are similarly missing. A particular frustration is the lack of accounts in their own words from the leading figures, notably Albert Kwok and his deputy Kong Sze Phui. Nonetheless, the material Wong has been able to bring together and the resulting narrative and analysis are truly impressive. There can be no doubt that One Crowded Moment of Glory will remain the definitive work on the Jesselton uprising and the Sabah war experience for the foreseeable future.

Following the introduction, the book is divided into nine chapters, the first of which ('Sabah on the brink of war') provides readers with the context necessary for understanding Sabah society, the situation in Jesselton, and the response of the local Chinese community as the Japanese advanced into China. The following chapters lead us through cumulative developments following the Japanese capture of Labuan on 1 January 1942 and the entry into Jesselton eight days later. Despite pragmatic adjustments to the hardships of the wartime situation, life became increasingly difficult in Sabah because of the declining economy, Japanese demands for labour and the extraction of 'blood money' from the Chinese community. In combination with reaction to news of events in China, notably the siege of Nanjing, these factors fed the 'stirrings of discontent' that laid the ground for active resistance. The initiator of the call for action against the Japanese was a young man. Albert Kwok Yuk Nam, whose recruiting base was the North Borneo Overseas Chinese Salvation Association, which he established in June 1942. In a secret meeting in late December Kwok changed the name of the Association to 'Kinabalu Guerrillas', signalling his intention of preparing for a military assault on the Japanese posts. The success of Kwok and his affiliates in attracting both members and financial support is striking, given public knowledge of the extent to which the Japanese would punish any perceived betrayal...