Sixty five Australian nurses and over 250 civilian men, women and children evacuated on the Vyner Brooke from Singapore, three days before the fall of Malaya. The Vyner Brooke was bombed by Japanese aircraft and sunk in Banka Strait on 14 February 1942. Of the sixty five nurses on board, twelve were lost as sea and thirty two survived the sinking and were captured as Prisoners of War of which eight later died during captivity. Sister Harris, aged 29, was one of the remaining twenty two nurses who also survived the sinking and were washed ashore on Radji Beach, Banka Island, where they surrendered to the Japanese, along with twenty five British soldiers. On 16 February 1942 the group was massacred. The British soldiers were ordered to walk up the beach. Once out of sight, they were bayoneted to death. The nurses were ordered to march into the sea and stand in a row where they were shot from behind. Their were only two survivors. Sister Vivian Bullwinkel, and a British soldier Private Patrick Kingsley
No one could imagine what was going through their minds knowing they had a few minutes left to live and no one to save them. Rest in Peace you brave nurses, you will never be forgotten
All Australian Nurses .
Elaine Lenore BALFOUR-OGILVY. Nursing Sister (Lieutenant) SFX10596, Australian Army Nursing Service 2/4th Casualty Clearing Station. Born 11 January 1912 at Renmark, South Australia to Harry Lort Spencer Balfour-Ogilvy and Jane Balfour-Ogilvy. Resided at Perth Western Australia. Enlisted 13 September 1940 aged 28 years and 8 months, occupation, trained nurse, residence, Tannadice, Renmark, South Australia. Her next of kin was her father. Embarked Singapore bound for Australia 12 February 1942 on Vyner Brooke. Murdered by Japanese troops on Radji Beach at Bangka Island, 16 February 1942, aged 30 years after surviving the sinking of the SS Vyner Brooke. Commemorated on the Singapore Memorial, Singapore
Alma May BEARD. Nursing Sister (Lieutenant) WFX11175 Australian Army Nursing Service 13th Australian General Hospital. Born 14 January 1913 at Toodyay, Western Australia to Edward William and Katherine Mary Beard. Enlisted at Perth on the 15 August 1941 and resided at Toodyay, Western Australia, occupation trained nurse. Embarked Singapore bound for Australia 12 February 1942 on Vyner Brooke. Murdered by Japanese troops on Radji Beach at Bangka Island, 16 February 1942, aged 29 years after surviving the sinking of the SS Vyner Brooke. Commemorated on the Singapore Memorial, Singapore
https://rslvirtualwarmemorial.org.au/explore/people/619438
Extract from above link
WFX11175 Sister Alma May Beard, 2/13th Australian General Hospital, Australian Army Nursing Service (AANS). She was one of sixty five Australian nurses and over 250 civilian men, women and children evacuated on the Vyner Brooke from Singapore, three days before the fall of Malaya. The Vyner Brooke was bombed by Japanese aircraft and sunk in Banka Strait on 14 February 1942. Of the sixty five nurses on board, twelve were lost as sea and thirty two survived the sinking and were captured as Prisoners of War (POWs) of which eight later died during captivity. Sister Beard was one of the remaining twenty two nurses who also survived the sinking and were washed ashore on Radji Beach, Banka Island, where they surrendered to the Japanese, along with twenty five British soldiers. On 16 February 1942 the group was massacred, the soldiers were bayoneted and the nurses were ordered to march into the sea where they were shot. Only Sister Vivian Bullwinkel and a British soldier survived the massacre. Both were taken POW, but only Sister Bullwinkel survived the war." - SOURCE (
www.awm.gov.au)
Ada Joyce BRIDGE. Nursing Sister (Lieutenant) NFX76284 Australian Army Nursing Service 13th Australian General Hospital. Born 6 July 1907 at Scone, New South Wales to William Thomas Bridge and Ada Matilda Bridge, of Stoney Creek, New South Wales, Australia. Enlisted 19 August 1941 at Victoria Barracks, Sydney N.S.W. aged 33 years, occupation, trained nurse. Her mother was her next of kin. Embarked Singapore bound for Australia 12 February 1942 on Vyner Brooke. Murdered by Japanese troops on Radji Beach at Bangka Island, 16 February 1942, aged 34 years after surviving the sinking of the SS Vyner Brooke. Commemorated on the Singapore Memorial, Singapore.
Florence Rebecca CASSON. Nursing Matron (Major) SFX13418 13th Australian General Hospital. Born 6 March 1903 at Warracknabel, Victoria, Australia,resided at Pinnaroo South Australia. Daughter of Henry and Mary Casson, of Willaston, South Australia. Embarked Singapore bound for Australia 12 February 1942 on Vyner Brooke. Murdered by Japanese troops on Radji Beach at Bangka Island, 16 February 1942 aged 38 years after surviving the sinking of the SS Vyner Brooke. Commemorated on the Singapore Memorial, Singapore.
Mary Elizabeth CUTHBERTSON. Nursing Sister (Lieutenant) VFX38746, Australian Army Nurses Service 2/10th Australian General Hospital. Born 5 March 1910 in Stirling, South Australia to William Melville Cuthbertson and Lillian Beatrice Cuthbertson, of 121 Burbank Street Ballarat, Victoria, Australia. Enlisted at Melbourne, Victoria Australia aged 30 years and 5 months, occupation, trained nurse. Embarked Melbourne 29 July 1941 disembarked Singapore 17 August 1941. Embarked Singapore bound for Australia 12 February 1942 on Vyner Brooke. Murdered by Japanese troops on Radji Beach at Bangka Island, Bangka Island, 16 February 1942, aged 31 years after surviving the sinking of the SS Vyner Brooke. Commemorated on the Kranji War Memorial, Singapore
