HUGHES, Gladys Laura
| Service Numbers: | VX61331, VFX61331, VX61331 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 8 August 1941, Melbourne, Victoria |
| Last Rank: | Sister |
| Last Unit: | 2nd/13th Australian General Hospital |
| Born: | Waikino, North Island, New Zealand, 19 September 1908 |
| Home Town: | Brunswick, Moreland, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Nurse |
| Died: | Died of Illness (POW of Japan), Sumatra, 31 May 1945, aged 36 years |
| Cemetery: |
Jakarta War Cemetery, Indonesia 3. D. 4. |
| Memorials: | Augusta Australian Army Nursing Sisters Monument, Australian Military Nurses Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Ballarat Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial, Bicton Vyner Brooke Tragedy Memorial, W.A., Kapunda Dutton Park Memorial Gardens Nurses Plaques |
World War 2 Service
| 8 Aug 1941: | Involvement Australian Army Nursing Service (WW1), Lieutenant, VX61331, VFX61331, 2nd/13th Australian General Hospital, Malaya/Singapore, Involvement (other information): 23/03/1943 to 06/12/1943, appointed Lieutenant seconded for services AIF, allotted army number VFX61331. (NAA, Pg-16). | |
|---|---|---|
| 8 Aug 1941: | Enlisted Australian Army Nursing Service (WW1), Staff Nurse, VX61331, VFX61331, Australian Army Nursing Service (WW1), Melbourne, Victoria | |
| 8 Aug 1941: | Enlisted VX61331, General Hospitals - WW2 | |
| 30 Aug 1941: | Embarked Australian Army Nursing Service (WW1), Staff Nurse, VX61331, VFX61331, 2nd/13th Australian General Hospital, HMS Wanganella, Melbourne (to Singapore) | |
| 12 Feb 1942: | Embarked Australian Army Nursing Service (WW1), Staff Nurse, VX61331, VFX61331, 2nd/13th Australian General Hospital, Embarked Ship - Date and Place of Departure: SS Vyner Brooke, 12/02/1942, Singapore, (with 65 other nurses, and civilians); to Japanese Aircraft Attack - sinking disaster - SS Vyner Brooke - Date and Place: 14/02/1942, Bangka Strait (by Bangka Island); (AWM) The Sinking of the SS Vyner Brooke. | |
| 15 Feb 1942: | Imprisoned Malaya/Singapore | |
| 23 Mar 1943: | Promoted Australian Army Nursing Service (WW1), Sister, 2nd/13th Australian General Hospital, (NAA, Pg's-16, 17). |
OUR SINGAPORE NURSES
Emotional Welcome As Gallant Women Return
Fremantle, Western Australia; The Australian Women's Weekly
Saturday; 3 November 1945, Page 19.
OUR SINGAPORE NURSES
BY: Josephine O'Neill
No legendary figures, but ordinary women, you, who died
Facing the water, last glance each to each
Along the beach, leaving your bodies to the accustomed surf
Your hearts to home
No legendary figures, but ordinary women, you, who lived
Holding the spirit, through the camps slow slime
Unsoiled by time ...
Bringing your laughter out of degraded toil
As a gift to home
As ordinary women, by your dying you fortify the mind
As ordinary women, by your living you honor all mankind.
TROVE: http://nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/55465571
Submitted 6 November 2018 by Daniel Bishop
Biography contributed by Daniel Bishop
Daughter of James HUGHES, & Elizabeth Shore (nee MONTGOMERY) HUGHES, of Mt Albert, Auckland, New Zealand.
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