Page 30 of Sisters Under The Rising Sun

Later that evening, a serviceman appears at the entrance of the hut. One of the nurses points him out to Nesta, who hurries over.

‘Hello, I’m Sister James.’

‘Nice to meet you, Sister. I hear you need to speak to the commodore.’

‘I do. Can you arrange it?’

‘I already have. I spoke to him a short while ago and he’s agreed to meet you tomorrow. Apparently, there’s something he wants to talk to you about too.’

The next morning, the nurses are asked to assemble at the far end of the school. They don’t have to wait long before an imposing-looking British officer approaches.

‘I’m Commodore Modin, Charles Modin.’

Nesta steps forwards. ‘Sir, I’m Sister Nesta James of the Australian Army Nursing Service.’

‘I’m sorry we are meeting under these circumstances, Sister James.’

‘I am too, sir.’

‘I was told of your arrival last night. I immediately spoke to the senior Japanese officer here and requested that the nurses were to be treated as military personnel, not citizens. It makes a difference to be called a prisoner of war instead of an internee and you should be entitled to certain protections, as well as access to the Red Cross.’

‘Thank you, sir, we—’

‘Sister James, I’m sorry to say that they refused. I did and said all I could to persuade them, but they wouldn’t budge.’

Everyone is instantly deflated. The brief smiles they shared fade and, once again, despair ignites amongst the women.

‘Could we talk to them?’ Nesta asks.

‘They won’t speak to you, Sister. Unfortunately, the Japanese opinion of women … well, let’s just say it isn’t the same as mine, ours.’

Nesta looks at her nurses. She can feel the words on the tips of their tongues; only their disciplined training is keeping them silent.

‘Again, I’m sorry. All I can do is wish you luck.’

‘I’m not sure how much luck is going to be on our side, but we do appreciate that you tried. Before you go, Commodore, may I remind you that I asked you for a meeting?’

‘Ah, yes,’ the commodore says, and Nesta instructs all but Vivian and Jean to return to their classroom.

‘Sir, may I introduce Sister Jean Ashton and Sister Vivian Bullwinkel? Vivian has something to tell you.’

‘I’m not sure what I can do to help, but do please go ahead, Sister Bullwinkel.’

‘We don’t want you to do anything: we simply want you to listen.’

Vivian begins to tell the story of the massacre on the beach and as she does, the colour drains from the commodore’s face. His staunch military bearing sags, but he remains respectfully silent until Vivian stops talking.

‘We don’t know what will become of us, but it’s crucial someone else knows what happened on Radji Beach,’ says Nesta grimly.

‘Thank you, Sister Bullwinkel. What happened to you, to your colleagues and the others on that beach constitutes a crime. To gun down unarmed prisoners of war is against the rules of this confounded conflict. I cannot tell you how sorry I am to hear what happened to you. There are no words. But you have been very brave and the army is grateful to you for helping Private Kingsley.’ The commodore’s eyes are shining. He lays a hand on Vivian’s shoulder. ‘I can’t even ask you to give me a list of all the people who were murdered; if it was found, none of us would make it out of here alive.’

Nesta watches Vivian while the commodore is speaking. She is visibly shaking; telling her story once more has taken its toll. She places a comforting arm around her distressed friend, holding her steady.

Commodore Modin steps in front of Vivian and straightens up to his full height before saluting her. He takes her hand.

‘I served in the Great War and I’ve been fighting in this one for two years. I thought I had seen and heard the worst of humanity. But today, just now, you have shown me that human brutality knows no bounds. What happened on that beach will not be forgotten. I’ll find a way to make it known and all I ask of you is that you say nothing to another living soul until you are safely back at home.’

Vivian can’t speak, but she nods, and the commodore turns and leaves.