SIMONS, Jessie Elizabeth
| Service Number: | TX6023 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 6 August 1941, Hobart, TAS, Australia |
| Last Rank: | Captain |
| Last Unit: | General Hospitals - WW2 |
| Born: | Launceston, Tasmania, 23 August 1911 |
| Home Town: | Nunamara, Launceston, Tasmania |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Nurse |
| Died: | Launceston, Tasmania, 23 December 2004, aged 93 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Wynyard General Cemetery, Tasmania |
| Memorials: | Ballarat Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial, Bicton Vyner Brooke Tragedy Memorial, W.A., Targa Patersonia Ward WW2 Pictorial Roll of Honour, Tasmania (Launceston) Garden of Remembrance |
World War 2 Service
| 6 Aug 1941: | Involvement Australian Army Nursing Service (WW1), Captain, TX6023, 2nd/13th Australian General Hospital | |
|---|---|---|
| 6 Aug 1941: | Enlisted Australian Army Nursing Service (WW1), Captain, TX6023, 2nd/13th Australian General Hospital, Hobart, TAS, Australia | |
| 6 Aug 1941: | Enlisted TX6023, General Hospitals - WW2 | |
| 12 Feb 1942: | Embarked Australian Army Nursing Service (WW1), Captain, TX6023, 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 | |
| 16 Apr 1946: | Discharged Australian Army Nursing Service (WW1), Captain, TX6023, 2nd/13th Australian General Hospital | |
| 16 Apr 1946: | Discharged TX6023, General Hospitals - WW2 | |
| 6 Mar 1947: | Honoured Mention in Dispatches, Malaya/Singapore, Honours & Awards: 06/03/1947, (MiD) Mention in Despatches - with regard of services rendered whilst POW in Japanese hands; Commonwealth of Australia - Gazette: Pg-760, Pos-92; London Gazette: Pg-1096, Pos-11. |
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 5 November 2018 by Daniel Bishop
Submitted 8 March 2020 by Daniel Bishop
Biography contributed by Sandra Barry
Jessie married Henry Hayman Hookway.
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