Home » Themes » Conflict » World War Two
South Australian Servicewomen`s Memorial WallPrint Page 
The wall commemorates the South Australian women who died in service or were killed in action in World War Two, and the Army Nursing Sisters who were killed in the Bangka Island Massacre during World War Two.
During World War Two, the Vyner Brook was attacked on the 14th of February in the Bangka Strait and sank within half an hour. While all the nurses survived the bombing, many drowned or were killed by the returning Japanese aeroplanes which raked those survivors struggling in the water with deadly machine-gun fire.
One group of survivors was washed ashore on Bangka Island. It was a motley group, comprising nurses, soldiers and civilian men and women. Finding themselves in a desperate situation, they surrendered to Japanese soldiers on the 16th of February. The men in the group were immediately led to a beach behind a bluff. The Japanese soldiers returned alone, cleaning their rifles and bayonets in front of the horrified women. The nurses were then ordered to walk into the sea, where they were machine-gunned. Only one nurse survived, Sister Vivian Bullwinkel.
Location
| Address: | Shepherds Hill Road, Women`s Memorial Playing Fields, St Marys, 5042 |
|---|---|
| State: | SA |
| Area: | AUS |
| GPS Coordinates: | Lat: -35.013253 Long: 138.578461 Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate. |
Details
| Monument Type: | Structure |
|---|---|
| Monument Theme: | Conflict |
| Sub-Theme: | WW2 |
| Actual Event Start Date: | 03-September-1939 |
| Actual Event End Date: | 15-August-1945 |
Dedication
| Approx. Monument Dedication Date: | 1953 |
|---|
Plaque :
In honoured memory of the South Australian Army Nursing Sisters who lost their lives in the cause of humanity on Bangka Island
February 1942
E. L. Balfour-Ogilvy I. M. Drummond
F. R. Casson L. F. Fairweather E. L. Keats
With the sinking of the Vyner-Brook
M. H. M. Dorsch A. M. Trenerry
Their names liveth for evermore
Plaque :
In honoured memory of all South Australian women of the Armed Forces who died on active service
1939 - 1945
Women`s Royal Australian Navy Service
H. M. Stone
Australian Army Nursing Service
M. H. McFarlane
V.A.D. / Australian Army Medical Women`s Service
J. E. McEwin
Royal Australian Air Force Nursing Service
G. H. Robertson
Women`s Australian Auxiliary Air Force
G. M. Armstrong J. F. Carter R. M. Naughton
E. M. A. Binks H. C. Harrison K. J. Smith
M. M. Burrowes T. E. McConnell V. M. Wiper
Their names liveth for evermore
Plaque :
Died as prisoner of war Bangka Island,
8th. February 1945
W. R. Raymont
