Stories from the Past Ryde nurses commemorated Australian wartime nurses on ANZAC day centenary in 2015 The researching of old photographs of Ryde Hospital as we celebrate 90 years has led to the unearthing of some incredible stories and memories. Jen Kinsella shared some of theses stories and photographs, including ANZAC Day commemorations and memorabilia displayed in Denistone House several years ago. Jen gave a talk about WW1 Anzac nurses on that day at Ryde during the ceremony, and presented the story of the WW2 nurses in Singapore.
Maree Canty, Cheryl Trudinger & Jen Kinsella honouring our ANZAC nurses in 2015
The background photo on the TV screen in one of the photos, is a video of the bombing of a Singapore Hospital and Australian nurses in WW2. The Australian nurses were evacuated via a ship called the Vyner Brook, as ‘Singapore burned’ . Many nurses, patients and civilians were killed or drowned, as the ship was fired upon and sank, including my distant relative, Sr Kathleen Kinsella (seen in TV). Some nurses that had survived and drifted onto Radji Beach were then shot by Japanese soldiers. Sr Vivian Bullwinkle was the only survivor, as the bullet exited through her abdomen and she was left for dead.
Many years later I met one of the Australian soldiers who tried to save Kathleen and the nurses. He told me their stories. Ironically after he survived the war and Changi POW camp, he became my patient for many years. I held his hand as he was dying in Ryde Hospital about 10 years ago, and his family and I are still in contact. Please read the stories of Sr Vivian Bullwinkle, or Paradise Rd /Vyner Brooke nurses and Radji Beach nurse massacre. They are stories that shouldn’t be forgotten. Lest we forget.
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