Meet the Bangka Island Nurses

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Sister Elaine Balfour-Ogilvy

Sister Elaine Balfour-OgilvyAge at death: 30

Sister Elaine Balfour-Ogilvy was an Australian Army Nursing Service nurse from South Australia who trained at Adelaide Children’s Hospital.

She worked primarily with the 9th Field Ambulance in Malaya and Singapore, then was moved to the 4th Casualty Clearing Station in Lampai, South Johore.

In the sinking of the SS Vyner Brooke, Sister Balfour-Ogilvy allegedly volunteered to stay on board until the very last minute to ensure all others were safely evacuated to lifeboats.

She was considered confident and positive, enjoyed singing, and was known as a strong swimmer.

Find out more about Sister Elaine Balfour-Ogilvy at the Virtual War Memorial

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Lieutenant Florence ‘Flo’ Rebecca Casson

Lieutenant Florence 'Flo' Rebecca CassonAge 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

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Matron Irene Melville Drummond

Matron Irene Melville DrummondAge at death: 36

Matron Irene Melville Drummond had a celebrated career working in regional South Australia and New South Wales before enlisting in the Australian Army Nursing Service in 1940. She was promoted to Matron in 1941 and served with the 2/13th Australian General Hospital when she evacuated from Singapore.

Irene was known as an exceptional nurse with the capacity to bring a ward to operation in under forty-eight hours in extreme conflict conditions and was often described as a “mother hen fussing over her chicks.”

When washed up on Bangka Island, Irene is credited for sending the civilian women and children to the local town of Muntok, inevitably saving them from the massacre.

Matron Drummond is best known for her comments before walking into the water with her nursing sisters on Bangka Island, saying “Chin up, girls. I’m proud of you all and I love you all.”

She was posthumously promoted to Major and then Lieutenant-Colonel in 1943.

Find out more about Matron Irene Drummond at the Virtual War Memorial

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Sister Ellen ‘Nell’ Louisa Keats

Sister Ellen 'Nell' Louisa KeatsAge 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

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Sister Mary Eleanor ‘Ellie’ McGlade

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

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Lieutenant Lorna Florence Fairweather

Lieutenant Lorna Florence FairweatherAge 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

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Sister Alma May Beard

Sister Alma May BeardAge at death: 29

Sister Alma May Beard was born in Toodyay, Western Australia, in 1913. She started her nursing career at Perth Hospital and later moved to Sydney to gain experience with a larger hospital.

After returning to Western Australia, Sister Beard enlisted in the Australian Army Nursing Service on 19 June 1941. She was deployed to Malaya as part of the 2/13th Australian General Hospital in September and remained there until the evacuation back to Singapore in January 1942.

After the war, Lieutenant Colonel Vivian Bullwinkel wrote to Sister Beard’s parents, stating that “…her brave conduct in an hour of crisis has added lustre to the service to which she so nobly carried on.”

Find out more about Sister Alma May Beard at the Virtual War Memorial

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Sister Minnie Ivy Hodgson

Sister Minnie Ivy HodgsonAge 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

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Sister Bessie Wilmott

Sister Bessie WilmottAge 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

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Sister Peggy Everett Farmaner

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

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Sister Kathleen ‘Kath’ Margaret Neuss

Sister Kathleen ‘Kath’ Margaret NeussAge at death: 31

Sister Kathleen ‘Kath’ Neuss was born in Mollongghip, Victoria in 1911 and moved to New South Wales when she was 18 months old. Her family lived in the small town of Inverell. She was one of six siblings and often travelled to school by horse.

Sister Neuss originally wanted to be a schoolteacher but trained as a private nurse in Inverell, before being trained at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney. She graduated as a Registered Nurse in 1939.

Soon after, in 1941, sister Neuss enlisted in the Australian Army Nursing Service and was posted to the 2/10th Australian General Hospital. She served in Malaya and Singapore, joining the 2/13th Australian General Hospital for part of this time.

She was known by her family and colleagues as fun and full of life, with a wicked sense of humour. Twenty of her letters remain, with details of her travels and experiences in Malaya and Singapore.

Sister Neuss was gravely injured in the bombing of the SS Vyner Brooke but made it alive to Radji Beach, where she was killed alongside twenty other nurses in the Bangka Island Massacre. One of her last acts was to give her life jacket to nurse Pat Gunther, who washed up on another island and eventually survived the war.

Find out more about Sister Kath Neuss at the Virtual War Memorial

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Sister Dorothy Gwendoline ‘Buddy’ Elmes

Sister Dorothy Gwendoline ‘Buddy’ Elmes Age at death: 27

Sister Dorothy ‘Buddy’ Elmes was born in Armidale, Victoria in 1914 and was often known as ‘Buddy’ to her friends. She spent most of her life in Melbourne and Chestnut and was often described as outgoing, confident with a quirky sense of humour.

In 1935 she began training as a nurse at Corowa Community Hospital, where she graduated four years later, and was described as ‘one of our best trainees’ by her Matron.

Her friend Jean referred to her as kind to both humans and animals, an avid reader and a fan of using ‘old hound’ as a term of endearment.

Buddy enlisted in the Australian Army Nursing Service at Paddington, NSW, in December 1940 and was deployed to Singapore. She served in the 2/10th Australian General Hospital. She noted in letters to family that the nurses were on duty over twelve hours a day and there ‘was nothing to write about these days.’

Her family continued to hope for her survival and search for her for years after she went missing, only for the confirmation of her death to be announced with the return of Lieutenant Colonel Bullwinkel.

Find out more about Sister Dorothy ‘Buddy’ Elmes at the Virtual War Memorial

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Sister Florence Aubin Salmon

Sister Florence Aubin Salmon Age at death: 26

Sister Florence Aubin Salmon was born in Sydney in October 1915 and lived in Sydney and Bathurst before her deployment overseas.

Little is known about Sister Salmon aside from her family connections and her brother, Leonard, who was also in the Australian Army with the 2/12th Field Ambulance.

She was trained at the War Memorial Hospital in Waverly, Sydney, as a nurse in 1938 and enlisted in the Australian Army Nursing Service in February 1941. Her first few months were Home Service at Bathurst Hospital, NSW before she was deployed to Malaya in May 1941.

Sister Salmon was part of the reinforcements for the 2/10th Australian General Hospital in Malacca and arrived in August 1941. She was also seconded periodically to the 2/4th Casualty Clearing Station between this time and her departure from Singapore.

Sister Salmon’s family did not only lose her in World War II – they also lost her brother, who died after the Hospital Ship ‘Centaur’ was sunk in May 1943.

Learn more about Sister Florence Aubin Salmon at the Virtual War Memorial

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Esther Sara Jean ‘Stewie’ Stewart

Esther Sara Jean ‘Stewie’ StewartAge at death: 37

Sister Esther Sara Jean ‘Stewie’ Stewart was born on 15 October 1904 in Brisbane, Queensland. Sources say that she lived in Coolangatta for a period of her life before moving down to Sydney to work as a nurse.

She began her training as a nurse at Diamentina Hospital in Brisbane, before completing her training at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and Crown Street Women’s Hospital in Sydney.

Commonly known by her family and friends as ‘Jean’ or ‘Stewie,’ she was very strong in her Christian faith and was a devout Presbyterian.

Sister Stewart enlisted in the Australian Army Nursing Service in April 1941 and was posted to the 2/10th Australian General Hospital in June.

After her death on Bangka Island, her nursing friends posted an obituary for her, and her mother campaigned for recognition and commemoration until she died in 1959.

Find out more about Sister Esther Sarah Jean ‘Stewie’ Stewart at the Virtual War Memorial

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Sister Nancy Harris

Sister Nancy HarrisAge at death: 29

Sister Nancy Harris was born in Armidale, NSW on 15 January 1913. After moving to North Sydney with family, she was trained as a nurse at the Royal North Shore Hospital. She later worked at The Coast Hospital before enlisting in the Army.

She was well known as a traveller, and just before the war had visited Fiji, China, and Japan.

Sister Harris enlisted in the Australian Army Nursing Service on 21 August 1941 and was deployed with the 2/13th Australian General Hospital. Sister Harris was one of only two nurses to have been on board the ship before the evacuation, having previously attended a function on the SS Vyner Brooke with Lieutenant Colonel Bullwinkel.

There is a bust and plaque at the Royal North Shore Hospital to commemorate the life of Sister Harris.

Find out more about Sister Nancy Harris at the Virtual War Memorial

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Sister Joyce Ada Bridge

Sister Joyce Ada BridgeAge at death: 34

Sister Joyce Ada Bridge was born in July 1907 in Scone, NSW.

She was well-known as a ‘typical country girl’ who took pride in her work as a nurse, often noted by family, friends and colleagues to always have a smile on her face.

Dancing was a passion of hers, having been noted enjoying local dances across her hometown several times. As she got older, she was known to enjoy various active sports, including tennis, swimming, and golf when she was not working.

After moving to Sydney, she trained at St Luke’s Hospital as a nurse and graduated in 1934. Upon graduation, she moved into private nursing at Toshack’s Nursing Club until she enlisted in the Australian Army Nursing Service in April 1941.

In September 1941 she travelled to Singapore and was posted with the 2/13th Australian General Hospital. She had a brief three-week stint with the 2/10th Australian General Hospital before returning to the 2/13th.

Upon her return after the war, Lieutenant Colonel Bullwinkel wrote about Sister Bridge, saying “…our respect, esteem and affection grew daily for Joyce’s commitment, skills and dedication. Joyce faced every crisis with cheerfulness and fortitude.”

Find out more about Sister Joyce Ada Bridge at the Virtual War Memorial

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Sister Mona Margaret Anderson Tait

Sister Mona Margaret Anderson TaitAge at death: 27

Sister Mona Tait was born in Booval, Queensland in February 1915. Soon after the birth of her sister Auriel in 1917, the family moved to Newcastle, NSW.

She began training at Cessnock District Hospital in the Hunter Valley, and, once graduated, moved to Canberra. She was the Sister in charge of the x-ray department at Canberra Hospital for three years before she enlisted in the Australian Army Nursing Service.

She was with the Victoria Barracks in Sydney for eight months before she was sent to Malaya in August 1941. Once she reached Malaya, she was part of the 2/13th Australian General Hospital until the evacuation of Singapore.

Little is known about her private life outside of her work as a nurse, but her writings at the Australian War Memorial show she had a considerate personality. In a letter to a friend in Australia, Sister Tait wrote to mention she had seen her brother. As WWII occurred before phone communications, this letter was to confirm with their family that he was alive.

After her death was confirmed, nursing staff at Canberra Community Hospital began collecting funds for the Mona Tait and May Hayman Memorial Prize, which was awarded to the most successful candidates in the final nursing exams in the ACT. Additional funds were raised for a plaque for the main entrance of the hall, which was moved when the hospital closed in 1991.

Find out more about Sister Mona Tait at the Virtual War Memorial

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Sister Janet ‘Jenny’ Kerr

Sister Janet ‘Jenny’ KerrAge at death: 31

Sister Janet ‘Jenny’ Kerr was born in August 1910 in Monteagle, NSW. Known as ‘Jenny’ to her friends and colleagues, she was described as a ‘no-nonsense girl’ who was well-known and held in high esteem by her community.

Nursing was a family affair for the Kerrs, with Jenny following her mother into the profession. She was trained at St George’s Hospital in Kogarah, Sydney and was a theatre sister at the hospital for many years.

Sister Kerr enlisted in the Australian Army Nursing Service in 1941, leaving Australia for Singapore and Malaya in September 1941.

According to Lieutenant Colonel Bullwinkel, Sister Kerr was the first nurse to note that the enemy forces had killed the male survivors that washed up on Bangka Island, saying “Bully, they have murdered them all.”

A memorial park was established at Woodstock, known at its unveiling in 1954 as the Jenny Kerr Memorial Park. A permanent sign was installed and unveiled on ANZAC Day 2015.

Find out more about Sister Jenny Kerr at the Virtual War Memorial

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Sister Rosetta Joan Wight

Sister Rosetta Joan WightAge at death: 33

Sister Rosetta Joan Wight was born in Fish Creek, Victoria, in December 1908. She was one of four children and lived on a farm in a small rural town east of Melbourne for much of her life.

Archives have shown that Sister Wight was a nurse in Melbourne and passed her Nurses Board exams while at Bendigo Hospital in 1935.

Sister Wight enlisted in the Australian Army Nursing Service in August 1941 and travelled to Malaya as part of the 2/13th Australian General Hospital. She remained with the 2/13th until the evacuation of Singapore.

In the bombing of the SS Vyner Brooke, Sister Wight was one of the worst injured, suffering shrapnel wounds through to the bone across her lower body. The other nurses carried her into a lifeboat, which overturned and forced Sister Wight to hold on until it reached Bangka Island, where she was subsequently killed.

She and 29 other Royal Australian Army Nursing Service nurses are memorialised on the Bendigo Base Hospital Honour Roll at Pall Mall.

Find out more about Sister Rosetta Wight at the Virtual War Memorial

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Sister Clarice Isobel Halligan

Sister Clarice Isobel Halligan Age at death: 37

Sister Clarice Halligan was born in Ballarat, Victoria, in September 1904. She was one of eight children, and the first of the siblings to die. They lived in Ballarat for their father’s work before moving to Kew, a suburb in Melbourne.

She is reported to have had a carefree childhood along the Yarra River with her siblings, with swimming, ice cream and exploring the Kew Mental Asylum, favourites of the family.

Sister Halligan was passionate about nursing from a young age, with her family still retaining many of the certificates of her training. Her first qualification was at 12 years old. She eventually trained at the Melbourne Hospital and Women’s Hospital Melbourne, as the two hospitals ran a combined training school for nurses at the time.

In July 1940, Sister Halligan enlisted in the Australian Army Nursing Service in Melbourne. Despite wanting to head to the Middle East, she ended up in Malaya as part of the 2/10th and 2/13th Australian General Hospitals.

Sister Halligan was hit by shrapnel in the bombing of the SS Vyner Brooke. She was not as severely wounded as the other two injured nurses and was able to walk with expectations of a full recovery.

Her death was not officially confirmed until 1945, with her family petitioning the Army in Canberra several times over the years hoping she would be found alive.

Find out more about Sister Clarise Halligan at the Virtual War Memorial

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Sister Mary Elizabeth ‘Beth’ Cuthbertson

Sister Mary Elizabeth ‘Beth’ CuthbertsonAge 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