Sister Ellen ‘Nell’ Louisa Keats

Age at death: 26

Known as Nell, Sister Nell Keats was trained at Parkwynd Private Hospital and Adelaide Hospital before enlisting with the Australian Army Nursing Sisters in 1940.

She was a member of the 2/10th Australian General Hospital at the evacuation of Singapore, having been deployed to Malaya.

Nell was known as a young but exceptional nurse, but little else is known about how she ended up on Bangka Island after the sinking of the SS Vyner Brooke.

A brass plaque in the Royal Adelaide Hospital Chapel commemorates Sister Keats and her work.

Find out more about Sister Ellen ‘Nell’ Keats at the Virtual War Memorial

Sister Bessie Wilmott

Age at death: 28

Sister Bessie Wilmott was born in Claremont, Western Australia, in 1913. She was known as a member of the Church of England, who was interested in theatre and was often seen with her stepmother and siblings.

She was trained as a nurse at Royal Perth Hospital and had periods of service at Perth Public Hospital and Metropolitan Infectious Diseases Hospital. Sister Wilmott enlisted in August 1940 and embarked for Malaya and Singapore in February 1941.

Once deployed, she was a part of the 2/4th Casualty Clearing Station and often travelled around Malaya and Singapore with the 9th Field Ambulance. Sister Wilmott was evacuated on the SS Vyner Brooke in February 1942.

Sister Wilmott was known as a strong swimmer, having learned to swim as a child in Western Australia. She is recorded to have held onto a rope hanging off a lifeboat after the sinking of the SS Vyner Brooke, which allowed her to survive and land on Bangka Island.

Learn more about Sister Bessie Wilmott at the Virtual War Memorial

Sister Peggy Everett Farmaner

Age at death: 28

Sister Peggy Farmaner was born in 1912 in Claremont, Western Australia and was part of a well-known settler family from the area.

She was known to have a garden under her name at her family estate that was tended to by family.

Her nursing career began at Perth Hospital, after which she moved to Sydney. Once World War II was declared, she immediately returned to Perth and enlisted in the Australian Army Nursing Service. She left for Malaya in August 1940 and joined the 2/4th Casualty Clearing Station.

Sister Farmaner’s final letter to her family was written on 9 February 1942 and described her concern for the situation but reminded her mother not to worry about her. She was killed a week later.

After news of her death reached her family, Sister Farmaner’s mother reportedly sent flowers to all the remaining nurses upon their return to Western Australia to commemorate her death.

Learn more about Sister Peggy Everett Farmaner at the Virtual War Memorial

Sister Mary Elizabeth ‘Beth’ Cuthbertson

Age at death: 31

Sister Mary ‘Beth’ Cuthbertson was born in March 1910 in Stirling, South Australia.

Little is known about Sister Cuthbertson, aside from her growing up in Ballarat and being trained as a nurse at Ballarat Base Hospital before her departure to Malaya as part of the Australian Army Nursing Service.

She was deployed under the 2/10th Australian General Hospital and was in Singapore when evacuations were ordered after enemy force advancements in the region. She survived the sinking of the SS Vyner Brooke but was killed on Bangka Island alongside her colleagues.

Her family were not made aware of her death until three and a half years later when Lieutenant Colonel Bullwinkel was on the radio as the only survivor of the massacre.

Find out more about Sister Mary ‘Beth’ Cuthbertson at the Virtual War Memorial