Summer service dress skirt: Sister Beryl Olive Chandler, RAAF Nursing Service

RAAF Nursing Service lightweight khaki wool twill summer service dress skirt. The six-gore skirt fastens at the proper left side with four press studs. The internal waistband facing has been removed post-war.

Worn by Sister Beryl Olive 'Chan' Chandler, born 7 March 1916 at Longreach and resident there when she enlisted in 18 June 1942. Beryl Chandler had enrolled in nursing before the Second World War and completed her training in late 1941. She decided to enlist with the Royal Australian Air Force Nursing Service and was accepted, serving under service number 502237.

She served at Townsville throughout 1942 and 1943, becoming involved in nursing the patients who had been exposed to Mustard Gas in the trials off the coast of Queensland. In February 1944, whilst holding the position of Sister in Charge at RAAF Narromine, she learned that the newly formed Medical Air Evacuation Transport Units (MAETU) was seeking air evacuation nurses. She applied for and was offered a position, one of 25 offered. Her training was rigorous, the Brisbane Courier Mail for 3 May 1944 reporting that 'these volunteer sisters, who are all between the ages of 21 and 30 have been selected for physical stamina, height, and weight, and have just completed a special course of training in Victoria.' The unit was based on the American model and, reported the Australian Women's Weekly for 20 May 1944, the courses taught included 'lectures and demonstrations on air evacuation tactics and administration, the reaction of patients suffering from certain injuries and diseases to varying altitudes in flight, correct methods of plane loading, and selection of suitable cases for air evacuation.'

The MAETUs were based on the American 804th US Medical Air Evacuation Transport Squadron, formed after the experience of the difficulties of evacuating patients out of New Guinea during the battles of 1942 and 1943. The 804th was composed of 5 doctors, 25 sisters and 25 orderlies. The RAAF equivalent was organised with assistance from the RAAF Medical Services. The RAAF medical personnel were posted to the 804th for two months in late 1943 to gain experience and offer assistance.

On 21 February 1944 a memo was issued for the formation of a RAAF Medical Air Evacuation Transport Unit; it was formed a week later and was to operate initially in conjunction with the 804th. After training in Melbourne, the RAAF nurses were posted to Nadzab airfield in New Guinea, where they were based.

A total of 38 RAAFNS sisters served in 1 and 2 MAETU; two were killed in crashes (Sister Sheah over Rabaul in November 1945 and Sister Craig over New Guinea in September 1945). Both units flew the Douglas C 47 Skytrain.

In all, Sister Chandler flew a total of 942 hours on medical flights with 1 MAETU. The unit carried over 14,000 patients with no losses suffered. Chandler’s flight log book reveals flights to and from Nadzab; Hollandia; Dobodura; Finschafen; Owi and Biak islands; Boroke; Port Moresby; Madang; Milne Bay; Kiriwina; Morotai; Meranke; Tarakan; Labuan; Balikpapan, Singapore and Palembang from August 1944 until October 1945.

She also flew a mission with the 804th in a Douglas C 54 Skymaster from Guadalcanal to Canton Island to Honolulu in November 1944.

But the mission she is best known for and for which she received the most publicity occurred in September 1945, at the end of the war when she flew to Singapore and on to Palembang to search for the Australian Army nurses who had been held as prisoners of war since 1942. This was part of a more general mission to locate and rescue POWs of the Japanese.

This letter from Sister Chandler to her parents was published in the 'Longreach Leader' on 13 October 1945:

'I have just finished the most epic of all flights I have ever made. You have undoubtedly heard I played a small part in the rescue of the Australian Army nurses who were interned in Sumatra. When we (Haydon Leonard, A.B.C. radio reporter; Major Windsor, an A.I.F. doctor and our air crew) left Singapore for Palembang, in Sumatra, we had one aim fixed in our minds--the finding and rescue of these girls who were last heard of at Palembang over three years ago. We had been told before leaving here that they had been moved from that area, but nobody knew where they had been sent. There was only one thing to do, and that was to find out.

We had been told that the Japanese at Palembang were still armed, and did not know what sort of a reception we would get. Also, we did not know if we could land our plane when we did get there as it was thought generally the airstrip was unfit to land on. So, with our very small party on board, and some medical equipment we set off for Palembang. We arrived there after two hours flying. Our co-pilot and Haydon Leonard set out by truck with some Japanese from Palembang to drive to Schat, about 200 miles away, to see if they [the nurses] were there, and to check up on an old Japanese airstrip as to its serviceability for landing our Douglas.

They went from Schat to Kublick Tunga, another 50 miles, before ultimately finding the nurses. They helped to get them ready, and Ken Brown, the co-pilot, with his knowledge of airstrips knew we could make it. In the meantime, back at Palembang, I had visited a prisoner of war camp and several hospitals and arranged for 30 very sick prisoners to be taken back to Singapore. The pilot took off without his co-pilot-quite an effort in a Douglas transport-and left me behind with Major Windsor in Palembang.

While the Major visited the prisoners of war and hospitals. I endeavoured to find out from the Japanese the condition of the airstrip at Schat. After sitting up and waiting nearly all night, word came through that the airstrip was considered dangerous, but we might be able to get in. They also said there were several Australian civilians there- approximately 26- who may be nurses. That was enough for us. Next day, Fred Watson, our pilot, arrived back at Palembang with Miss Sage, the matron-in-chief of the Australian Army Nursing Service and another A.I.F. sister. Fred still had to fly on his own. At three o'clock in the afternoon we set off for Schat hoping that we could land O.K., and that the two boys had discovered the nurses and got them down to the strip.

We arrived at Schat 45 minutes after leaving Palembang. Fred made an excellent landing and there they were, 24 of them; all terribly sick and tired but waiting with smiles and laughter for us. Five of the girls I had trained with at the Brisbane General. They knew I was coming for them, because I gave Hayden a letter for them. There were seven but two had died. We hugged and kissed and talked about the silliest things. Our arrival in Singapore is indescribable. Batteries of photographers and news reporters were everywhere. This was really, news. There are a hundred and one interesting stories attached to this flight which I will have to tell you when I see you.'

Sister Chandler was discharged on 10 January 1947. On 8 February 1947 she married Cyril Arthur Maddock, an ex-POW who had served as a gunner with 2/10 Field Regiment, in St. Andrew's Church, South Brisbane.