The Anglican Church in Miri was started when 60 European settlers moved to Miri to develop the oil fields after a firm resolve was made by the Brooke administration to explore the potential of oil. This made Miri a first priority for the Japanese forces arriving on Borneo during the world war 2. They arrived on the 16th of December 1941. The excerpt from the website of the Diocese of Kuching recounts the martyrdom of the members of the Anglican congregation in Miri.
'The Japanese arrived in Miri on 16 December 1941 and at this time Mercer was on leave, leaving Siong Teck in charge. Soon after, Siong Teck was arrested, tortured and imprisoned for helping a downed Dutch pilot. The church and school were acquired by the Japanese, and used as interrogation centre and stores. On 13 June 1945, Siong Teck, Catechist Chong En Fui (En Siong’s brother) and Joel Paul, the church secretary, with 25 others were executed (some said they were beheaded while others said they were shot) by the Japanese.' (source: http://www.diocesekuching.org/index.php/miri/)
This memorial was erected to commemorate the 28 civilians of various nationalities that were executed by the Japanese in June of 1945. They were actually executed in the Lambir hills, their remains were relocated here and buried in a common grave after the war.
Right next to the memorial courtyard, is presently an Anglican Church Kindergarten, before becoming a preschool, was the first Anglican church in Miri built in 1923.