Defence service nurses commemorate the spirit to survive

RSL Queensland State Deputy President Wendy Taylor honouring the cape and veil symbolising Army nurses 

The service, attended by current and ex-serving personnel, marked the tragedy during World War II that saw 21 nurses and many more soldiers killed on Radji Beach, Bangka Island (near Sumatra) after the SS Vyner Brooke was bombed and sunk. 

Defence Service Nurses RSL Sub Branch Secretary Robyn Green says the anniversary carries a message relevant to us all. 

“Theirs is a story of immense resilience. Of surviving despite everything that’s happened to you because you have to – right or wrong,” she says. 

“One of the members that was marched out into the water survived. Had she not survived, the world would not have known of the atrocity that happened on that island.

“I think it is a huge message to all of us. That we can survive these things. Their story and the history surrounding it gives us a lot to consider and also the importance of the communities we create and foster.”

The memorial was held at St Augustine's Anglican Church

After the Vyner Brooke sank, around 100 survivors gathered on Radji Beach where they surrendered to authorities and were killed by Japanese forces. The nurse Robyn speaks of was Viviane Bullwinkle, who was the only surviving nurse from the massacre. Although she had been shot in her side, Viviane lay motionless in the water until the sound of troops disappeared. 

“They had bombed a hospital ship, killed all the male patients and were then killing the nurses. So, she managed to lay in the water for six hours and survive before spending several days in the bush nursing a wounded British soldier that she found barely alive,” Robyn explains. 

Viviane and the soldier would eventually surrender to Japanese forces, and while he died not long after reaching the prisoner of war camp, Viviane spent three years as a POW. 

She survived the war and eventually gave evidence of the tragedy that occurred on Radji Beach at the International Military Tribunal for the Far East. 

Robyn says the service held in Brisbane on 12 February 2022 is important for the families of the victims to honour their memory. 

“The event allowed us to show respect and honour these phenomenal women who showed up and continued to do their jobs, to care for the injured and ill, in what were terrible, terrible times,” she says.

Family of Matron Paschke, who was lost in the bombing of the SS Vyner Brooke, Robin Krieg, Cecelia Krieg, David Trail, Lyn Trail and Diane Rudd

Robyn says more than 140 people attended the service.

“We were very grateful to also have two direct descendants of Matron Paschke, lost at sea after the bombing of the SS Vyner Brooke,” she says. 

“Reverend Patrick King from St Augustine’s Anglican Church at Hamilton led a team of Military Padres for this service and Ex-Army Chaplain Christine Digby, Army Chaplain Andrew Osborne and new to Queensland RAAF Chaplain Timothy Mannix all jumped at the opportunity to participate in this very important commemoration service.

“I also want to thank the many others including the 1st Regiment Royal Army Artillery for allowing their band members and singers to participate in this service – making it truly special – and 2HB for assisting with the organisation and coordination of military personnel during a time of high workload for our Defence Forces health units. 

“What an honour it was to witness the continued dedication and respect that is there for not only our fallen community, but those that suffered at the hands of war.”

Learn more about the Defence Service Nurses RSL Sub Branch at www.rslsouthqueensland.org/branches/dsn/. 

WO1 Craig Murray RSM 2HB and LTCOL Anna Reinhardt CO 2HB

Dr Ann Bramwell DSN

Pixie Annat DSN and Andrea Cush DSN

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