The War Nurses
Anthea Hodgson
Reviewed by Helen
This was one of the most emotional books I have read for a while, it is heartbreaking, moving and so much more, but told so beautifully with compassion and such love as Anthea Hodgson takes us back in time to an unforgettable story about our Australian nurses during WW2 a story that is inspired by her own great aunt, Minnie Hodgson, I do advise that you have a box of tissues handy.
It is 1942 and country nurses from Western Australia Minnie Hodgson and Margot McNee board a ship bound for Singapore, they are looking at adventure and are proud to be doing their part in the war, they meet many other nurses and make life time friends, but soon Singapore is under siege and they need to evacuate.
They board the Vyner Brooke and continue to work hard looking after the injured soldiers and the many other people who are on board, woman and children from many different countries but they are bombed by the Japanese, there is such devastation, survivors floating on rafts and in life boats doing their best to get to one of the islands, separated one group of nurses find themselves on Bangka Island, what happens here, the fate of these nurses is atrocious, so shocking that is must never be forgotten.
The other group of nurses find themselves in a prisioner-war-camps till the end of the war, here these strong determined and courageous woman do everything they can to survive in the worst possible conditions with cruel captors, no food no medical help, just their fortitude and grit and the friendship and love they share with each other. The resilience and grit from these woman had me cheering them on through my tears.
Getting to know Margot, Beth, Lola, Minnie and the other nurses will stay with me for a long time to come, this story is compelling and poignant, with fabulous characters and it is an unforgettable story based on true facts and pays tribute to these nurses who should never be forgotten. It shows true friendship and how it can sustain people in such hard time.
I loved this book from start to finish, I cried so much and I cheered them on and I smiled at the humour and wit that they could still show through it all, many thanks Anthea Hodgson for such a beautiful story that is told so well.
My thanks to Penguin AU for my copy to read and review.
It is 1942 and country nurses from Western Australia Minnie Hodgson and Margot McNee board a ship bound for Singapore, they are looking at adventure and are proud to be doing their part in the war, they meet many other nurses and make life time friends, but soon Singapore is under siege and they need to evacuate.
They board the Vyner Brooke and continue to work hard looking after the injured soldiers and the many other people who are on board, woman and children from many different countries but they are bombed by the Japanese, there is such devastation, survivors floating on rafts and in life boats doing their best to get to one of the islands, separated one group of nurses find themselves on Bangka Island, what happens here, the fate of these nurses is atrocious, so shocking that is must never be forgotten.
The other group of nurses find themselves in a prisioner-war-camps till the end of the war, here these strong determined and courageous woman do everything they can to survive in the worst possible conditions with cruel captors, no food no medical help, just their fortitude and grit and the friendship and love they share with each other. The resilience and grit from these woman had me cheering them on through my tears.
Getting to know Margot, Beth, Lola, Minnie and the other nurses will stay with me for a long time to come, this story is compelling and poignant, with fabulous characters and it is an unforgettable story based on true facts and pays tribute to these nurses who should never be forgotten. It shows true friendship and how it can sustain people in such hard time.
I loved this book from start to finish, I cried so much and I cheered them on and I smiled at the humour and wit that they could still show through it all, many thanks Anthea Hodgson for such a beautiful story that is told so well.
My thanks to Penguin AU for my copy to read and review.
5 stars
April 12, 2023 by Penguin
