The Forgotten MASSACRE of the SS Vyner Brooke Nurses, 14 February 1942

The Forgotten Massacre of the SS Vyner Brooke Nurses, 14 February 1942, is a deeply emotional and historically critical documentary exploring one of the most overlooked wartime atrocities committed during the Pacific Campaign of World War II. This video uncovers the tragic fate of the 22 Australian Army Nursing Service women who survived the sinking of the SS Vyner Brooke, only to face a brutal massacre on Radji Beach, Sumatra, at the hands of Imperial Japanese soldiers.

Through a detailed reconstruction of events, survivor testimonies, military records, and post-war investigations, this documentary reveals the courage, sacrifice, and resilience of these nurse—women who dedicated their lives to healing but were murdered simply for wearing an Allied uniform. We explore the fall of Singapore, the desperate evacuation across the Bangka Strait, the bombing and sinking of the Vyner Brooke, and the harrowing final moments when the survivors stood on the beach awaiting their fate.

This video also honors Sister Vivian Bullwinkel, the sole survivor of the massacre, whose extraordinary bravery and years of silence under Japanese captivity helped preserve the truth until the war ended. Her testimony remains one of the most powerful accounts of wartime atrocities in the Pacific.

Whether you are studying World War II history, military nursing, Japanese wartime policies, or the lesser-known human tragedies behind major battles, this documentary offers a comprehensive and unforgettable look at an event that should never be forgotten.

This is not just a story of violence—it is a story of dignity, courage, and the determination to remember those who were erased from the wartime narrative for far too long.

⏰ Timestamps:
0:00 The Nurses on the Beach
1:58 The Fall of Singapore
3:42 Evacuation Under Fire
5:10 Aboard the Vyner Brooke
6:48 Attacked from the Sky
8:26 Sinking into Chaos
10:04 Survivors in the Water
11:33 Reaching Radji Beach
13:12 Waiting for the Japanese
15:01 The Massacre at Radji Beach
17:44 The Lone Survivor
20:06 The Forgotten Legacy











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