Vyner Brooke Memorial - Kings Park, Perth , Wsetern Australia - World War II Memorials / Monuments on Waymarking.com

On the 12th of February 1942, Vyner Brooke was one the last ships carrying evacuees to leave Singapore. Although she usually only carried 12 passengers, in addition to her 47 crew, Vyner Brooke sailed south with 181 passengers embarked, most of them women and children, including the last 65 Australian nurses in Singapore.

On the 14th February, Vyner Brooke was attacked by several Japanese aircraft and within half an hour sank . Approximately 150 survivors eventually made it ashore at Banka Island, The island was occupied by the Japanese and most of the survivors were taken captive.

Sister Vivian Bullwinkel was with a group of 22 survivors on Banka Island when a Japanese patrol arrived and ordered the women to walk into the sea. They were machine-gunned from behind. All except Sister Bullwinkel were killed.

Of the 65 nurses who embarked on the Vyner Brooke, only 24, including Vivian Bullwinkel and Betty Jeffrey, returned to Australia. Of the 32 taken prisoner of war, eight died in captivity.

The memorial is in the form of a plaque in a garden setting in Kings Park

Property Permission: Public Website for Waymark: [Web Link] Location of waymark: May Circle , May Dr Kings Park Perth, W.A Australia 6005 Commemoration: Sinking of the Vyner Brooke and the massacre of the survivors Date of Dedication: Not listed Access instructions: Not listed Access times: Not listed

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