Winifred (Winnie) May DAVIS. Nursing Sister. (Captain) NFX70498 AANS attached to 2/10th Australian General Hospital.
Born 7 July 1915 at Cowper, near Clarence River, New South Wales, Australia to James and Laura Ellen Davis of Coldstream Street, Ulmarra, Clarence River, New South Wales.
Trained at the War Memorial Hospital, along with Sister Florence Salmon and had served on its staff until they enlisted.
Died 19 July 1945 whilst a P.o.W of the Japanese.
At rest in Menteng Poeloe War Cemetery, Java, Civilian War Dead. Included in the Nurses’ War Memorial Chapel in Westminster Abbey, London
Also commemorated on -
Augusta Australian Army Nursing Sisters Monument,
Australian Military Nurses Memorial,
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour,
Ballarat Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial,
Bicton Vyner Brooke Tragedy Memorial, W.A.,
Kapunda Dutton Park Memorial Gardens Nurses Plaques
Some notes from her service records. -
Enlisted 10 December 1940 at Victoria Barracks, Sydney, New South Wales aged 25 years into unit named Emergency Unit and posted to 2/1 AGH Camp Hospital, Sheila
10 December 1940 granted pre-embarkation leave
31 January 1941 taken on strength with10th Australian General Hospital.
28 January 1941 embarked from Australia with 10th A.G.H from Australia bound for Singapore, disembarking at Singapore 18 February 1941.
7 May 1941 attached to 2/4th Casualty Clearing Station, Malacca from 10th A.G.H
19 July 1941 admitted into 10th A.G.H. with appendicitis. She was discharged to her unit fit 10 AGH for duty.
11 August 1941 granted 13 days sick leave; 23 August re-joined her unit.
26 September granted 3 days leave to 29th and re-joined her unit
29 December 1941 detached for duty with 13 AGH
12 February 1942 she and 13th A.G.H. evacuated Singapore for Australia on evacuation ship, Vyner Brooke which was later attacked by the Japanese off Bangka Island, where she and many survivors were taken P.O.W. by the Japanese.
16 February 1942 reported missing, later reported P.O.W and interred in Sumatra Camp. Malaya.
19 July 1945 Died of Beri Beri whilst in a Japanese internment camp in Sumatra, Southeast Asia.
Photograph credited to Virtual War Memorial Australia.
