Blanchie : Alstonville's inspirational World War II nurse / Ian Kirkland.

Collection type Library
Author Kirkland, Ian.; Alstonville Plateau Historical Society.;
Call Number 940.5472095957 K59b
Document type Monograph
Year 2012.
Pagination 78 p. : ill., ports. ; 21 cm.
Publisher Alstonville Plateau Historical Society,
Note Includes index. Includes bibliographical references (p. [69]-75) and index. Jessie Blanch was born at Bangalow (N.S.W.) and attended Rous Public School. She trained to be a nurse in Brisbane before enlisting during World War II. She spent a year nursing in Malacca before being evacuated from Singapore when it fell to the Japanese. Unfortunately the Vyner Brooke on which 65 nurses were being evacuated was sunk and Jessie spent 16 hours in the water. She then spent three and half years as a prisoner-of-war encountering atrocious conditions. During this time she was an inspiration t o the other nurses. Unfortunately only 24 of the nurses form ship made it back to Australia, the others being drowned, shot or dying while in camp. Jessie received one of the three Associate of Red Cross medals. She later married and spent the last few ye ars of her life in Alstonville (N.S.W.).
Place made Alstonville, N.S.W. :

Shelf Items

Barcode Call Suffix Volume Part Year Location Status
AWM089215 940.5472095957 K59b Stacks On Shelf