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In October 1943 Sabah lay under the iron heel of the Japanese. The armies of Japan had invaded Borneo in January 1942 as part of the Japanese war of conquest in the Far East which had begun on December 7th, 1941 with the victory by the forces of the Emperor over those of the United States of America at Pearl Harbour, Hawaii.  Labuan was taken on January 1st, 1942. At that time Great Britain was engaged in a struggle for its very life both in Europe against the Germans, and in the Far East against the Japanese.  She could not spare arms and men to defend Sabah, so the North Borneo Chartered Company ordered its officers not to fight but to hand over their powers to the Japanese.  The North Borneo Government issued special orders to the people to obey their new masters and not to get themselves into any trouble. The only fighting men who could have defended Sabah were the police and a Volunteer Force.  This force was small and was made up of clerks, school teachers

United statesUnited kingdomKota kinabaluNorth borneoGreat britainAlejandro suarezJesselton sports clubJapanese military policeBorneo chartered companyFar eastPearl harbourNorth borneo chartered companyNorth borneo governmentVolunteer forceEuropean governmentChartered company