McPherson (nee Keast), Daisy Cardin (Tootie) as a member of the Australian Army Nursing Service (AANS), 1940-1946, interviewed by Jan Bassett

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Accession Number S01824
Collection type Sound
Measurement 1 hr 2 min
Object type Oral history
Physical description 1/4 inch sound tape reel; BASF LP 35; 3 3/4 ips/9.5 cm.s; stereo; 5 inch
Maker Keast, Daisy Cardin
Bassett, Jan
Date made 20 February 1987
Access Open
Conflict Second World War, 1939-1945
Copyright Item copyright: © Australian War Memorial
Creative Commons License This item is licensed under CC BY-NC
Copying Provisions Copyright restrictions apply. Only personal, non-commercial, research and study use permitted. Permission of copyright holder required for any commercial use and/or reproduction.
Source credit to AWM Special Project Fellowship Award
Description

Early life; commenced civilian nursing training in 1932; enlisted late 1940 and posted to Ingleburn camp hospital; 18 April 1941 left Sydney on the Hollandia for Rabaul, New Britain and attached to 2/10th Field Ambulance; in early 1942 Japanese air attacks forced evacuation of hospital from Rabaul to catholic mission out of Rabaul; after capitulation held in Catholic convent; on 5 July 1942 taken back to Rabaul and boarded Naroota Maroo for shipment to Yokohama in Japan; held in Yokohama amateur rowing club; describes living conditions and work duties; transferred to Tosuka; describes conditions and duties; camp discipline; after end of war treatment and food rations improved; released by Americans and transported to Manila in the Philippines where they were passed to Australian authorities; recounts description of treatment and conditions of prison camp; tells story of dog in Yokohama; recounts time in Manila before flying out to Darwin; after rest period in Darwin arrival at Mascot Aerodrome in Sydney; critical of the way the Australian military authorities ignored and made no arrangements for the civilian nurses who were held captive with the army nurses; placed in hospital in Sydney for tests and examination; arrival home at Junee, NSW; what became of the other nurses after the war; describes return visit to Rabaul and Japan. END OF INTERVIEW
A transcript of this recording may be available. For further information please contact the Sound section.

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