AWM137 2/1 - Historical information and general development of the RAAF Nursing Service - Notes of History of the RAAF Nursing Service 1940-1944 - Part 3

THE FOLLOWING IS AN ACCOUNT OF THE RESCUE OF
AANS PERSONNEL FRON LAHAT (SUMATRA)
ON 15TH SEPTEMBER 1945
BY SISTER B.O. CHANDLER RAAFNS
1. Our search commenced from PALEMBANG where the Nurses
had been last heard of three years ago. The party consisted of
Lt Col Hayes (RAMC), Major Windsor (AIF), Major Clough (RAPWI),
Pte Prott (Medical Orderly), Haydon Lennard (War Correspondent)
and the crew comprising S/Ldr Madson (Pilot), F/O K. Brown
(Co-pilot), a wireless operator and myself.
2. We left Singapore at 0800 hours on the morning of the
14th September without any knowledge whatsoever of the air strip
at Palembang. We were not sure either of the reception we
would receive at the hands of the Japanese, who were known to be
in control there, and still armed. We arrived over Palembang
at 1015 hours. S/Ldr Madsen made a low run over the field to
view its serviceability. He decided it was alright and we landed.
The Japanese flagged us in. Thirty fully armed Japs came out
to the plane and we were asked immediately why we had landed.
Haydon Lennard said "we are looking for some Australian nurses
who were imprisoned here three years ago". This did not satisfy
the questioning officer and it was not until Lt Col Hayes stated
we were there under instructions from the Supreme Allied Commander,
Lord Louis Mountbatten, that we got anywhere. We had no papers
with us and Lt Col Hayes certainly saved the situation. We
were escorted to the Strip Pavilion and given coffee, biscuits
and cigarettes. The Officer-in-Charge then phoned Jap HQs and
fifteen minutes later two staff cars arrived and we were driven
ten miles into Palembang to the Hotel Buys. Along the route
Japanese officers and soldiers stood to attention. The
Japanese area Commander met us at the Hotel and was questioned
through a Dutch Interpreter, Captain Van Ecyk, about the
whereabouts of the Australian girls. The Japs denied all
knowledge of them but gave us information regarding the POWs
in Palembang.
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3. Lt David Christie (RN), a POW, was in conversation
with me soon after our arrival and asked if I would like to see
the POW Hospital. I replied in the affirmative and was taken
along, Major Windsor and Pte Prott going with me. Many Dutch
and British prisoners were in the final stages of starvation.
I recognised the urgent need for their evacuation, and with
that idea in mind returned to the Hotel.
4. In the meantime Haydon Lennard and F/0 Ken Brown
together with a Jap Officer who could speak a little English,
and a driver, decided to leave for Lahat, acting on advice given
them by Sgt Chisholm, an Australian POW, that the Nurses had
been transferred there three years ago. The Co-pilot was to
ascertain the condition of the Air Strip and phone it back to
us. The two men left at 1500 hours.
5. On my return to the Hotel I informed S/Ldr Madsen
of the condition of the British and Dutch POWs and asked him if
it would be possible to get them out and back to Singapore that
afternoon. He, you will remember had no Co-pilot at this stage.
His immediate answer was "yes". Lt Christie communicated with
Dr Reid (RN) quickly and in very short time nominal rolls had
been made out and patients ready for transportation. I decided
to send Pte Prott back with the load of patients, I felt that I
could be of assistance in Palembang, and for that reason stayed
behind. Pte Prott had no previous experience with patients in
Flight, however, he listened intently to my instructions and
took off with S/Ldr Madsen at 1630 hours. I listened to a news
broadcast at the Australian POw Camp later that day and learned
that the patients had arrived safely in Singapore. The Pilot
and Orderly had done their job well.
6. Lt Col Hayes, Major Windsor and myself, visited the
Australian POW Camp during the evening. First and foremost we
were after information which would lead us to the Nurses and I
wanted the numbers of PoW personnel for the records of Medical
Air Evacuation. I lost Major Windsor at this stage. He visited,
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another section of the Camp and then went back to Palembang to
interview several Dutch civilians who had at some time been
interned with the Nurses. Being the first Australian woman that
the men had seen since their imprisonment I was beseiged by
many seeking news of all and sundry. They were all keen to give
any information which could help in the rescue of the girls.
While with them they presented me with a Kangaroo which had been
made by one of the Sisters of the 2/4th CCS. Around her neck,
secured by a piece of red string, was a map of Australia cut
out of cardboard. On one side the Sisters had written their
names and the other side carried a greeting to the Australian
Soldiers. It was smuggled to them from Lahat, a distance of some
two hundred miles. For almost three years "Joey" hung outside
the Australian Camp. She was insulted by all manner of means
by the Japanese. As the POWs said while presenting her to me,
"Joey has suffered all the tortures and torments that we have.
Many a time we didn't think she would make it, but she did, and
is still here with us." "She is a grand little fellow who
boosted our spirits no end on returning to Camp after a hard days
work." I intend to send "Joey" to the Canberra War Museum on my
return to Australia. She has rightfully earned a place of Honour
there. She will always be remembered.
7. Before I left the men I learned that the Nurses had
been transferred from Palembang to Lahat, and then months later
moved to Belalau Camp outside Loebod Linggau, some seventy miles
further on.
8. Returning to the Hotel I met Captain Van Ecyk who
was about to leave, and asked him to get the Japanese to contact
the Civil Internment Camp at Loebok Linggau and arrange for an
English speaker to be brought to the phone. Some few hours
later I found myself speaking to an Englishman at the male
Internment Camp. He told me there was no telephonic communication
at the Women's Camp but was able to inform me that approximately
twenty six Australian women were there, of whom some could be
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Nurses. That was as much information as we needed.
9. S/Ldr Madsen had requested that I obtain all possible
information on the condition of the Lahat strip and announce it
to him on his return the following day. Not having heard from
F/O Brown I told the Japanese through an interpreter that I
wanted a full report on the strip by 0700 hours next day. At
that hour Captain Van Ecyk called to see me while I was having
breakfast and handed me the report. It stated the strip was
estimated at 1500 meters long and 250 meters wide, situated
about seven miles out of Lahat. The Japs considered it highly
dangerous 100 meters both ends but having learned that a Jap
medium bomber had landed there three days previously I had no
doubt about our landing too. I knew the capabilities of my
aircraft and pilot.
10. Back in Singapore S/Ldr Madsen was arranging for two
more planes to accompany him back to Palembang the next day for
the further evacuation of sick POWs there. These planes arrived
at 0830 hours the following morning and having loaded to their
fullest capacity set off again for Singapore.
11. S/Ldr Madsen had been delayed there owing to a flat
tyre. He eventually arrived in Palembang at 1300 hours, bringing
with him Miss Sage (matron-in-Chief AANS) and Sister Floyd, a
colleage of some of the imprisoned girls.
12. The tyre had flattened again on landing and we had
to wait while the Japs repaired it. We took off from Palembang
at 1500 hours and arrived at Lahat forty five minutes later.
The pilot made a perfect landing and considering the dangerous
strip and the fact that he had no co-pilot I think he did a
truly magnificent job.
13. When the doors of the aircraft opened there stood
Haydon Lennard and F/O Brown, their faces weary and unshaven
but wreathed in smiles as they told me they had found them,
twenty four in all and they were waiting for us. They had also
brought along eight other women internees, all elderly. I
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shall never forget the expressions on those girls faces on our
arrival, their laughter and tears for joy as they realised that
they were actually free at last. How proud I was to be with
them, they had courageiously suffered so much. We lost no time
in boarding the aircraft and at 1630 hours we were taking off
again for Singapore with thirty eight in all on board. There
was a moving scene in the aircraft on the way back when the girls
recognised "Joey" the moscot they had sent to the men three
years previously. Once again the troublesome tyre flattened as
we took off and S/Ldr Madsen was faced with landing in Singapore
with a flat tyre, and a very heavy load. He did it successfully
and a great deal of credit is due to him for executing that
landing under such circumstances.
14. Haydon Lennard and F/O Brown joined the plane at Lahat
and returned to Singapore with us. Miss Sage, Sister Floyd and
Major Windsor stayed behind in Lahat to attend the sick.
Conditions there were very dreadful.
15. Let me tell you of the fine efforts of Haydon Lennard
and F/O Brown.
16. These two men arrived in Lahat after a long and
tiring drive of seven and half hours. There they contacted
a Dutch officer who informed them that the girls were in the
Women's Internment Camp at Loebok Linggau, some sixty miles
further on. They requested the Japanese to send a train to
Loebok Linggau for the purpose of bringing the girls back to
Lehat. The Dutch officer whose name I have forgotten and Haydon
Lennard went along on the train and F/O Brown continued the
journey by truck alone with twenty armed Japs. They had all
arrived at Loebok Linggau at 0400 hours. From there they were
driven to Belalau Camp ten miles away. Here they found the
Nurses interned with some six hundred other women mostly British
and Dutch with a few Eurasians. With the Dutch Officer the
men visited both male and female internment camps and ascertained
the numbers of inmates and their conditions for the records of
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RAPWI and RAAF Medical Air Evacuation. They then requested the
Japanese to send another train from Lahat to Loebok Linggau to
bring other sick ones out next day, and arranged to have them
on the airstrip next morning, the 16th. They knew the RAAF
would not hesitate to assist in the rescue of those people.
17.  On our return my Unit was notified of the fearful
conditions prevailing at Loebok Linggau and next day three
aircraft each carrying a flight nurse flew into Lahat.
18. I cannot praise the work of those three men, (Haydon
Lennard, S/Ldr Madsen and F/O Brown) highly enough. Without
their individual help the finding of the AANS would not have
been possible and their rescue delayed indefinitely.
19. The RAAF have undoubtedly done an outstanding work in
Singapore, the crews sometimes flying day after day without
Meteorological Reports or Wireless aids.
20. I am proud to be a member of such a Service. 

MAETU SISTERS KILLED IN AIRCRAFT ACCIDENTS
Sister Verdun Bernice SHEAH, Flight Sister in Dakota courier
A65-54 of 33 Squadron which left Jacquinot Bay at 0900 hours
on 15th November 1945 for Rabaul. Crashed soon after take
off on flying into mountain about 100 feet from summit.
All personnel killed instantaenously. 8 RAAF (Pilot Flight
Lieutenant R.A. HANRAHAN). 5 crew; 3 Navy; 6 Army; (some
patients) also some Indian ex POW.
Wreckage sighted 2 or 3 days later; reached on 26th November
1945.
Bodies recovered in February 1946 and interred in War Cemetery
Rabaul.
Sister Marie Eileen CRAIG (No 2 MAETU) Flight Sister in a
Douglas transport A65-61 of 38 Squadron, which left Biak at
1121 hours on September 18th 1945 for Merauke (optional stop), en
route to Higgins Field (Q'Land) on the
On the trip from Morotai to Townsville aircraft posted missing.
Never found.
RAAF 8; Crew 5, medical orderly - Sergeant BLACKMORE -
18 Army stretcher cases, some of these ex POW
Sister CRAIG awarded M.I.D. (posthumously)
Wreckage located and identified in mountainous area of West Irian
December 1970.

PORT MORESBY.
BRIEF NOTES ON R.A.A.F. NURSING SERVICE IN THE PACIFIC AREA.
27.11.42  S/Sister J.WHEATLEY and Sisters WEBER, HAMILTON and GARDNER
arrived at No.3M.R.S.,PORT MORESBY, being the first members of the
R.A.A.F. Nursing Service to serve in the Pacific Area. On I.I2.42
Sister F. ASHBEY and Sister A.T. CLEARY arrived at unit completing the
staff posted for duty.
During December, I942, 25 in-patients were treated and 7 operations
performed and by January,I943, the unit was fully organised, with a
daily bed average of 54.4. patients and 86 during later months.
21.6.43. S/Sister WARD and Sister U.M. LEE arrived at No. 3 M.R.S. and
relieved S/Sister WHEATLEY who came south.
Beginning of August,1943, S/Sister WHEATLEY returned to PORT
MORESBY and by the middle of September the other original Sisters of
No. 3M.R.S. returned to the mainland having completed their operational
tour.
I7.8.43. S/Sister WARD and Sister LEE arrived at No. 8 M.R.U., SOGERI.
This unit had arrived at PORT MORESBY on 4th. July and reached its site
at SOGERI on 21.7.43. By 27.8.43. the unit was functioning and there
were 20 in-patients under treatment.
S/Sister WHEATLEY spent a fortnight at SOGERI after the withdrawal
of Sisters from No.3M.R.S. and on I3/9/43 joined No.2M.R.S. at MILNE BAY.
I5.9.43. Sisters YOUNG, PERGER, BROWN,PARSONS, McALLISTER, DU MOULIN and ROCCET arrived from the mainland. This unit was a busy one, and early
after the arrival of the Sisters was functioning with a daily bed average
of II7 patients.
October,I943, No. 2I M.C.S., PORT MORESBY, opened up and on
23.I0.43 S/Sister WHEATLEY visited Port MORESBY to meet S/Sister MOXHAM
Sisters FISHER, N.B. COOMBES, B. MARLOWE, S. KELLY, J.S. SMOTH and J.McLEOD.
At the end of November the unit was working with a daily bed average of
5I in-patients. At the end of November Sister KELLY had to be
evacuated south for medical reasons.
3.11.43 Matron WHEATLEY visited GOODENOUGH ISLAND to inspect the Sisters'
Quarters at No. 5 MA.R.S., and early December saw the arrival of S/Sister
CUNNINGTON, Sisters RENKIN, COYDER,KELSALL,HAMBLETON, DOUGLAS, MUSGRAVE
and MANNING. By the end of December these Sisters were working
with the unit's daily average of 76 in-patients.
Also during December, Section-Officer A. ALLAN and Under-Officer
HUDSON commenced their tour in New Guinea visiting units and demonstrating
the cooking of dehydrated foods. Matron WHEATLEY accompanied these
two members of the W.A.A.A.F. on their visits.
7.1.44. Sisters McANALLY, ADDERLEY and JEMMETT arrived at No.2I M.G.S.
3.2.44. S/Sister McDOWELL, with Sisters HEADING, SAMPSON, J.C.A PATTERSON,
M.J. READ, A.M. BUDD, B. WISEMAN, and U. JAMES arrived at No. 3.M.M,R.S.,
KIRIWINA.
Early in March, No. 26 M.G.3. was formed from personnal and
equipment of No. 3 M.R.S. and by
15.3.44. the Sisters were withdrawn and staged at No. 2 M.R.S. pending
disposal as relief on other units in New Guinea.
8.2.44. Sister F.M. HARRISON posted to No. 2I M.G.S.
14.2.44.S/Sister NElLSON posted in charge of No. 2..M.R.S. as relief
for Matron WHEATLEY and Matron was then available for full-time
administrative duties in the area.
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27.5.44. Matron WHEATLEY handed over to Matron T.V. FRANKLIN, and was
posted for home leave with effect from 4.4.44.,and operational tour
completed. Also during March Sister McALLISTER withdrawn from 2 M.R.S.
5.4.44. S/Sister McDowell posted to No.9 M.R.U. and on
25.4.44. S/Sister E. WARD was posted to No.I P.D. at conclusion of tropic tour.
Sister McLEOD of 2I M.C.S. and Sisters J.C.A. PATTERSON, BUDD, READ,
were recalled to the mainland to commence training for Medical Air
Evacuation Transport work at Medical Training Unit, Victoria, on 3.4.44.
Sister B. WISEMAN of 3 M.R.S. joined the staff of 5 M.R.S., and
Sisters HEADING,SAMPSON and JAMES, 2 M.R.S..Two Sisters were
recalled to the mainland on urgent compassionate grounds, prior to the
conclusion of their tour - Sister HEADINC during March, and Sister
ROUGET during June, 1944, and Sister DU MOULIN posted to 3 P.D. with
effect from 21.3.44, owing to sickness.
27.4.44. The first Royal Australian Navy Sister arrived at No.2 M.R.S.,
Sister KELLY, and by 2.5.44., there were 4 R.A.N. Sisters with the unit,
and two wards were handed over to them.
April, 1944, No. 5 M.R.S.,GOODENOUGH ISLAND, commenced packing
in anticipation of move, and during May, No. 21 M.C.S. became responsible
for the organisation and evacuation transport of patients to the mainland,
which naturally caused a staff shortage on the unit.
In June,1944, it was proposed to move 2 M.R.S. forward to MADANG,
and unit commenced to pack.
25.6.44. The first M.A.E.T.U. Sisters arrived at PORT MORESBY - S/Sister
KENDRICK, S/Sister BRAID, Sisters McLEOD, MacKENZIE, and on 29.6.44.
S/Sister N. McBEAN and Sister J.C.A. PATTERSON arrived. Pending
completion of their unit headquarters at NADZAB the Sisters were staged
at No. 21 M.C.S. and helped on units and with air evacuation of patients.
29.6.44. Sister U.M.LEE posted south at conclusion of tropical tour.
1/.7.44. A club for the use of Army and R.A.A.F. Sisters was opened at
KIERA BEACH, and the opening was attended by Matron FRANKLIN.
During July,1944, Matron-in-Chief, R.A.A.F. Nursing Service,
visited New Guinea with Matron FRANKLIN and inspected all the units.
10.7.44. Sisters of 5 M.R.S.,GOODENOUGH ISLAND, completed duties and proceeded
on posting, when transport was available as replacement postings to
2 M.R.S. and 2I M.G.S., also posting south of Sister J.SMITH of 2I M.C.S.
20.7.44. The posting to the mainland of members of 2 M.R.S. who had completed
their tropical tour - Sisters YOUNG, BROWN and PARSONS, and Sister R. PERG
who had been serving with 8 M.R.U. and 2I M.C.S.
26.7.44. The fourth birthday of the R.A.A.F. Nursing Service was celebrated
at the Officers' Club with an Anniversary Dinner. Matron-in-Chief,
Matron FRANKLIN and eighteen members of the R.A.A.F. Nursing Service
were present from 21 M.C.S., 8M.R.U., and No. I M.A.E.T.U., also all
medical officers of the area and representatives from R.A.A.F. units.
17.8.44. Members of the M.A.E.T.U. at 2I M.C.S. departed for NADZAB , and
by the end of the month the unit was complete, and 15 Sisters were
working with it:-
S/Sisters KENDRICK, BRAY, BRAID C.G. COOK, McBEAN;
Sisters BUDD, CHANDLER, HARBOURD, MacKENZIE, McLEOD, J.C.PATTESON,
N.J. READ, M.A.SIMMONDS, M.A. SCOTT and WROE.
September, 1944, Matron FRANKLIN Moved forward with Northern
Command Headquarters to MADANG. Designation at Principal Nursing Officer,
NORTHERN COMMAND, promulgated.
The end of August saw the posting south of the following Sisters:-
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RANKIN, DOUGLAS, WISEMAN, MANNING, MUSGRAVE and HAMBLETON.
I8.9.44. S/Sister NEILSON and Sister SAMPSON arrived at No. 2 M.R.S.,
MADANG, and replacements from South, Sisters WITCOMBE and FUREY on
21.9.44., and on 26.9.44. Sister E.M. RODDA.
10.10.44. Sisters C.J. McNAMARA, J. MESLEY, E.M. BEGG arrived, bringing
unit up to full strength. S.Sister CUNNINGTON, Sisters GOYDER and
KELSALL being posted South, from No. 21 M.C.S.
30.10.44. Sister N. COOMBES and Sister MARLOWE posted South on completion
of tropical tour.
I.II.44. Sister CONFEGGI and Sister FEWKES posted to 2l M.C.S. as replacement
and on I8.11.44 Sister N.L. WILSON and Sister R. LINDLEY. During
November,1944, S/Sister NEILSON was replaced by S/Sister DOHERTY at
No.2 M.R.S.- Sisters SAMPSON (2 M.R.S.), JAMES,(S M.R.U.), S/Sister
MCDOWELL,(8 M.R.U.), and Sister K. FISHER, (2I M.C.S.), were posted south
at conclusion of tropical tour. Also during November and December
S/Sister MOXHAM acted as P.N.O. whilst Matron FRANKLIN attended conference
and course at M.T.U. in Victoria; and on 20.12.44, S/Sister MOXHAM posted
South at conclusion of tropical tour.
In charge of units in NORTHERN COMMAND, December, 1944 were:-
P.N.O., Matron FRANKLIN, NORTHERN COMMAND, MADANG;
S/Sister DOHERTY - 2 M.R.S., MADANG,
S/Sister KENDRICK - No. I M.A.E.T.U., NADZAB,
S/Sister KEMMIS - 21 M.C.S.- (posted 22.12.44.),
SIster CONFEGGI - 8 M.R.U.- (posted 22.12.44.).
During December, Sisters McANALLY,ADDERLEY, F.M. HARRISON, from 21 M.C.S.,
and Sister JEMMETT from 8 M.R.U. complete tropical tours and were replaced
by Sisters P.R. SCHOLZ, M.F. ANDERSON, E.L. SMITH and E.M. SHAND.
In March, 1945, arrangements were made for Sisters of No.I M.A.E.T.U.
to stay overnight at A.C.H.,LAE, the night prior to flying, as most of the
aircraft were loading patients from the Lae strip - quarters for No.
I M.A.E.T.U. were under construction at LAE.
April 1945. April, 1945, 6 members of the Royal Navy were attached to
No. I M.A.E.T.U. for instruction in air evacuation duties.
S/Sister DOHERTY relieved as P.N.O. when Matron T.V. FRANKLIN was posted
South on completion of tropical tour. S/Sister MILLIKEN arrived at
MADANG on 21.4.45 and took charge of 2 M.R.S. and A/S/Sister I. HINES
was posted to 8 M.R.U., SOGERU, on 1.5.45.
At the beginning of May, No. I M.A.T.T.U. moved from NADZAB to LAE.
I8.5.45. Sisters DUE, DU MOULIN, HOWARD, L McKENZIE arrived as reinforcements
for M.A.E.T.U. Matron L. DOHNT was posted to H/Q. NORTHERN COMMAND,
as Principal Nursing Officerand annotated for duty with II Operational
Group and Ist. Tactical Air Force, R.A.A.F.
At the end of May, Sisters CAIRNCROSS, G. McKENZIE, DUNCAN and
PICKERING arrived at MADANG and were staged at 2 M.R.S., their posting being
for duty with 5 M.R.S. which was then based at MOROTAI, but awaiting
an advance move to a forward area. Group Captain FARRAR, M.A.I., when
on inspection duty of Pacific area instructed that these members were
to work with No. 2 M.R.S.
32.5.45. No. 2 M.A.E.T.U. was formed and departed to MOROTAI. S/Sister
M. BRAID in charge, S/Sister A. HUDD, Sisters CHANDLER, WROE, HARBOURD,
M.A.SCOTT, and as reinforcements :- Sisters H.M.O. DAVIS, M. CRAIG,
SCHAGHE, STAFFORD, CLEARY.
In June,1945, a signal was received at A.F.H.Q. requesting the
attachment of Sisters posted for duty with 5 M.R.S. to to 23 M.C.S.,
then at MOROTAI and on
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