Page 4 of Sisters Under The Rising Sun
‘We’ll head down to the saloon where the captain has given us permission to set ourselves up. We have a lot of planning to do, and we must be prepared for anything,’ the woman in a matron’s uniform tells her nurses. Another matron stands amongst them, beaming, her pride in her nurses evident. She is clearly happy for her younger colleague to take charge.
As the nurses file towards the hatch, Norah, Ena and John claim some space on the upper deck for the first night of their escape. The fires burning along the shore compete with the brilliance of the setting sun over what was once a tropical paradise. Now, it resembles Armageddon.
John slides down the ship’s bulkhead, coming to rest on the wooden floor planks. He indicates for Norah and Ena to join him, and they take a seat either side of the sick man, huddling close to him to keep him upright. John wraps an arm around each woman and they watch their world disappear, in silence.
The nurses file into the saloon, chattering amongst themselves. They are excited, terrified and, right now, they need the comfort of their friends and colleagues.
‘Quiet, girls! We have a lot to do.’ Matron Olive Paschke calls them to order. ‘We are going to split into four teams. Some of you will be responsible for those below deck and others for those above. I will assign each a senior who will be responsible for the appointed area, along with the discipline and morale of their group. But first I want to make it clear that should the worst happen, and we must abandon ship, you are to assist with the evacuation, and we will be the last to leave.’
Matron watches her nurses take this in. The girls glance at one another, nodding; fully understood.
Nesta, second in command to Matron Paschke, is the first nurse appointed to lead a team. Quickly, efficiently, the nurses divide the medications and bandages between them.
As the nurses assemble, Matron Drummond addresses the entire group.
‘First, I want to say how incredibly proud I am of all of you. We’ll get through this together. I’ve been advised by the captain that there are not enough lifeboats on board for everyone if we must abandon ship. Therefore, please always keep your life jackets on. Sleep in them; they could mean the difference between life and death.’
‘And,’ adds Matron Paschke, ‘if you end up in the sea, don’t forget to take your shoes off. Girls, I am not going to sugar-coat our voyage. We’ll be bombed, there’s no doubt about it. I’m sorry, but it’s inevitable.’ The matron pulls back her shoulders, stands taller, a show of strength for her nurses. ‘Now, let’s head to our allocated areas and practise evacuation. Matron Drummond and I will come around and check on you. Oh, one more thing, if we are to abandon ship, Matron Drummond will give the order. Understood?’
Nesta leads her group up top and to the port side of the ship. Norah, John and Ena watch them practise the drill of assisting people over the side, identifying where ropes can be used. Nesta tells her nurses they will be dealing with terrified, possibly injured, men, women and children. In gentle tones they rehearse the words of comfort they will use to persuade unwilling passengers to jump into the sea.
‘Remember, there will be people who don’t know how to swim, including children and even babies. Tell them there will be help at hand once they’re in the water. There are portable life rafts which the crew will throw down to us.’
Norah is watching Sister Nesta James, distracted for a moment from their surroundings to admire the young woman’s command of the nurses in her charge. Nesta catches her eye and gives her a broad smile. She evidently remembers helping this trio earlier. Her smile is saying,Nothing to worry about here. All part of the job. Norah isn’t sure she’s reassured but she appreciates the gesture, the humour in Nesta’s smile as they sail through a war zone.
But, too soon, Norah becomes aware once more of the danger they are in. She buries her face in John’s arms, stifling the sobs that threaten to break free, telling herself she can’t cry, can’t be a baby after having watched the brave nurses show their unwavering commitment to saving those who need their help.
‘You’re thinking about Sally, aren’t you?’ John whispers into her hair.
‘Did she go through this, John?’ Norah weeps. ‘Was she thrown overboard by a well-meaning person? If only we knew she’d made it, where she was right now. Tell me she’s safe.’
‘I would know if she wasn’t, I would feel it,’ John reassures her, lifting her chin from his shoulder with shaking fingers. ‘You would too. You’d feel it here.’ He places a hand over Norah’s heart. ‘Our Sally is safe, my darling, you must believe that. Hold on to that image and we’ll be with her very soon.’
Ena leans across John to hug her distraught sister. ‘She’s safe, Norah. She’s waiting for you,’ she comforts her.
‘Well done, girls!’ Matron Drummond says, after observing Nesta at work with her nurses. ‘Sister James, finish off what you’re doing and take your girls downstairs to rest. Unfortunately, we’ve heard there are food shortages on board, so Matron Paschke and I have already said we will donate our allocation to the children. I’ll see you down there.’
‘Excuse me, Sister James, but I can’t swim,’ one of the nurses announces.
‘You’re in good company, neither can Matron Paschke,’ Nesta tells her.
‘Really? D’you know that for a fact?’ The nurse brightens.
‘I do. We were together in Malacca in Malaya. It had the most wonderful beaches and when we were off duty, we often went there to swim. We couldn’t even get Matron to have a paddle, she was terrified of the water.’
Few of the sleeping and exhausted passengers notice when the ship’s engine is turned off, or the anchor dropped. The captain has decided not to run the risk of detection in the exposed Banka Strait. But a moment later, he changes his mind.
‘We can’t stay here,’ he tells his crew. ‘Let’s go full speed ahead towards the Strait. Fast as we can.’
The sun wakes those sleeping on the deck. The oppressive heat wakes those below deck. The nurses set about serving the meagre rations, before heading back to the saloon for further orders.
‘Matron and I met with Captain Borton a short while ago,’ Matron Drummond tells the assembled group. ‘Unfortunately, we’re lagging behind where he needs us to be. Rest while you can. Will the leaders please stay, and everyone else go upstairs where it might be a little cooler?’
‘Please remind your nurses to always wear their Red Cross armbands,’ Matron Paschke tells the group leaders. ‘Should the worst happen, they will be identifiable. You never know, maybe the Japanese pilots will see them and spare the ship and its passengers. Captain Borton has told us if the ship’s siren sounds short blasts, it means we’re under attack. In which case, proceed to your duty stations and await further orders. If the siren sounds a continuous blast, that means abandon ship, and you all know what to do. Go and speak to your girls now; Matron and I will shortly come around and inspect your stations.’
The top deck is busy with the passengers trying to escape the heat and humidity below. Many doze where they can find a little shade. Many don’t hear the approaching plane. Those that do, stand transfixed, eyes raised to the skies, watching as the aircraft dips towards the sea and heads straight for them.
‘Take cover! Take cover!’ booms a voice over the loudspeaker.
