Massacred Nurses Immortalised With Statue of Sole Survivor

Vivian Bullwinkel’s story is now set permanently in bronze at the Australian War Memorial. Courtesy of Australian War Memorial

The Australian War Memorial has unveiled a sculpture of Lieutenant Colonel Vivian Bullwinkel, who was the only surviving nurse of the Bangka Island Massacre from World War II, where the Japanese killed 21 of her fellow nurses.

The bronze statue by Australian Artist Charles Robb commemorates the courage of the volunteer nurses while serving their country during the war.

On Feb. 16, 1942, Japanese troops ordered 22 nurses to walk into the sea and machine-gunned them in the back at Radji Beach on Bangka Island, Indonesia.

Ms. Bullwinkel alone survived after receiving non-fatal gunshot wounds by pretending to be dead. She endured another three and half years in captivity when she surrendered to Japanese forces.

Vivian Bullwinkel David Whittaker/Australian War Memorial

Adjunct Prof. Kylie Ward of the Australian College of Nursing said the nurses were doing work they loved until the very end.

Prior to their deaths, the nurses were evacuating from the Japanese invasion when their ship was bombed shortly after leaving port, killing 12.

“For two days following their evacuation to Bangka Island, the nurses cared for other wounded evacuees, including women and children, civilians, and soldiers,” Ms. Ward said.

“They were then ordered to walk into the sea and were machine-gunned in the back. Vivian was shot and wounded but lived to share this harrowing story of strength and sacrifice.”

“We must remember their courage and selflessness. We must link the past, present, and future to remember their sacrifice, service, and leadership.”

Ms. Bullwinkel was born in South Australia and trained as a nurse in Broken Hill, New South Wales. She died at 84 years old on July 3, 2000.

Sculpting an Incredible Life

The work by Prof. Robb, who is a Brisbane-based artist, captured the challenges and accomplishments of all Australian nurses.

“I’ve had the joy of spending the last few years with and working on the sculpture but also researching Vivian’s awe-inspiring life,” Prof.Robb said.

“The key thing that I wanted to achieve was to capture a likeness and a sense of the way she carried herself in the world, this quite strong and self-contained individual, while reflecting the perseverance that drove her.”

Ms. Bullwinkel's sculpture represents the strength, kindness, and warmth that she developed from her experience enduring many war atrocities, said the Head of Art at the Australian War Memorial Laura Webster. David Whittaker/Australian War Memorial

After retiring from the army in 1947, she devoted her life to the nursing profession and to honouring those killed on Bangka Island, raising funds for a nurses’ memorial and serving on numerous committees, including as a member of the Australian War Memorial Council and president of the Australian College of Nursing.