Imagine being ordered by an enemy to walk into the ocean with more than 20 of your colleagues, believing this would be the end of your life. You're shot, but still alive, and play dead until you can't hear anything. You then go into hiding.
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This is what Lieutenant Colonel Vivian Bullwinkel lived through on February 16, 1942, in the Bangka Island Massacre of World War II. She was the sole survivor of the 21 nurses who were killed that day.
A new sculpture of her will be the first sculpture of an individual nurse or woman in the grounds of the Australian War Memorial. It will feature a representation of Vivian in recognition of her exceptional military service and importance to the development of Australian nursing.
Who was Vivian Bullwinkel and what was the Bangka Island Massacre?
Born in Kapunda, South Australia, Vivian was a nurse who served the Australian Armed forces in World War II. She trained as a nurse and midwife at Broken Hill, New South Wales, and began her nursing career in Hamilton, Victoria, before moving to the Jessie McPherson Hospital in Melbourne in 1940.
According to the Australian War Memorial, she applied to volunteer as a nurse with the RAAF in 1941 but was passed over because she had flat feet. Instead, she joined the Australian Army Nursing Service, and set sail for Singapore in September 1941, assigned to the 2/13th Australian General Hospital (2/13th AGH). She spent some time with the 2/10th AGH before joining her original group.
Japanese troops had invaded Malaya by the end of the year and come January 1942, the 13th AGH fled to Singapore. That escape was short-lived; Dozens of nurses and other evacuees boarded SS Vyner Brooke, which was bombed and sunk by the Japanese in the Bangka Strait.
Nurses and a large group of men, women, and children aboard that fated ship made it ashore at Bangka Island. As the group left to find someone to surrender to, the nurses stayed behind to tend to the wounded.
When Japanese soldiers massacred the group, Vivian was struck by a bullet and pretended to be dead. After hiding with a wounded soldier for 12 days, she surrendered and spent three and half years in captivity.
Vivian retired from the army in 1947 and became Director of Nursing at Melbourne's Fairfield Hospital. She devoted herself to nursing and honouring those killed on Bangka Island, raising funds for a nurses' memorial, and serving as a member of the Council of the Australian War Memorial, and later President of the Royal College of Nursing, Australia.
Australian War Memorial director Matt Anderson said it was a harrowing story of dedication, compassion, survival and bravery.
"Vivian Bullwinkel should be a household name. The memorial will commemorate this inspirational Australian and her legacy as a proud nurse and a brave leader."
The sculpture
Head of Art at the Australian War Memorial Laura Webster said the sculpture is being created to recognise all Australian nurses who have lost their lives or survived atrocities while serving their country. She said the sculpture - designed by Charles Robb - has her in a standing pose in working summer uniform, hands gently clasped, in a pose that reflects her dignified composure and unrelenting dedication to nursing principles of care.
The tribute to Vivian will be made possible through collaboration between the Memorial and the Australian College of Nursing Foundation, which is leading the fundraising effort for the statue.
Australian College of Nursing chief executive Adjunct Professor Kylie Ward said: "I'm inspired by the thought that generations of children to come will see a statue in bronze of a nurse and midwife at the Australian War Memorial.
"The statue will be a powerful and long-lasting symbol of nurses' selfless service to Australia and its citizens whether in war or in peace.
"It also serves as a reminder of the prominent role women have had throughout history in protecting our country and the sacrifices they have made on our behalf."
About the sculptor
Brisbane-based artist Charles Robb was appointed to create the work following a limited invitation design competition in 2020.
"I feel immensely privileged to be charged with the responsibility of creating a sculpture of this remarkable woman, Lieutenant Colonel Vivian Bullwinkel," Dr Robb said.
"I hope to represent the strength, kindness and warmth that speak so powerfully to me when reading about her incredible life story. This is the first commemorative sculpture of a woman in the Memorial grounds, and the largest portrait sculpture in their collection - both statements of Nurse Bullwinkel's standing in Australian history."
The sculpture will include 22 stainless steel discs, representing the 22 women killed in the Bangka Island Massacre. The discs will be arranged at the base of the sculpture as a reflection of the stars that would have been visible in the night sky on February 16, 1942.
