Lieutenant Florence ‘Flo’ Rebecca Casson

Age at death: 38

Known as ‘Flo’ to her friends and colleagues, Lieutenant Flo Casson was trained as a nurse at the Royal Adelaide Hospital and later became Matron of the Jamestown, Port Pirie and Pinaroo Soldiers’ Memorial Hospitals.

She enlisted with the Australian Army Nursing Service in 1941 and travelled to Malaya with the 2/13th Australian General Hospital, where she remained until the evacuation of Singapore.

Lieutenant Casson was severely injured in the bombing of the SS Vyner Brooke but was able to escape due to support from her nursing service colleagues. Her nursing colleagues again supported her when she was forced to walk into the water before they were killed.

Find out more about Lieutenant Florence ‘Flo’ Casson at the Virtual War Memorial

Sister Mary Eleanor ‘Ellie’ McGlade

Age at death: 39

Sister Mary “Ellie” McGlade was a well-established nurse in the New South Wales region, having trained at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney.

She was a carer from a young age, with her school reports noting that “no one has a chance to get seriously ill before she is reported and nursed back to normal by the indefatigable Ellie.”

Sister McGlade was a member of the 2/13th Australian General Hospital and worked in Tampoi, Johore, in Malaya before being sent back to Singapore and evacuated on the SS Vyner Brooke.

It is not known how she washed ashore on Bangka Island, but she is known to have died with the twenty other nurses who perished.

Find out more about Sister ‘Ellie’ McGlade at the Virtual War Memorial

Lieutenant Lorna Florence Fairweather

Age at death: 29

Lieutenant Lorna Fairweather was a nurse born and raised in South Australia, where she worked in a care home known as Somerton Crippled Children’s Home. She enlisted with the Australian Army Nursing Service in 1941 and was part of the 2/13th Australian General Hospital in Singapore.

She had a brief stint with the 2/10th Australian General Hospital in Malacca, where she met other members of the Bangka Island nurses.

Little else is known about Sister Fairweather, only that she was evacuated on the SS Vyner Brooke and was a part of the Bangka Island massacre a few days later.

Find out more about Sister Lorna Fairweather at the Virtual War Memorial

Sister Minnie Ivy Hodgson

Age at death: 33

Sister Minnie Hodgson was born in Leederville, Western Australia in 1908 and spent most of her pre-military career nursing in remote Western Australia. Sister Hodgson was known to travel between Perth and Leederville throughout her childhood, including for schooling.

Sister Hodgson enlisted for the Australian Army Nursing Service in December 1940 and was called to full-time duty in July 1941. She spent time in the 2/10th Australian General Hospital and the 2/13th Australian General Hospital while deployed, though she was with the 2/13th at the time of the evacuation of Singapore.

The Australian Army Nursing Service did not confirm her death at Bangka Island until 8 March 1946, four years after her actual death.

Learn more about Sister Minnie Hodgson 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