Torney, Vera Alexandra (1916 - )

On 12 February 1942 the Empire Star sailed from Singapore harbour. The ship which normally had an allocation of space for 20 passengers was carrying over 2100 people. While on route to Batavia, the ship came under enemy fire and received three direct hits. During one of the raids, two of the Australian nursing staff on board, Sister Vera A Torney and Margaret Anderson came on deck to attend to the wounded. They protected their patients by covering them with their bodies. Staff Nurse Vera Torney was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (Military) on 22 September 1942 for her work with the Australian Army Nursing Service. Staff Nurse Margaret Anderson received the George Medal.

Related Corporate Bodies

• Australian Army Nursing Service (AANS) (1903 - 1948)

  Service no: VX63846

  [ - 1945]

Related People

• Anderson, Margaret Irene (1915 - )

  Staff nurse in the Australian Army Nursing Service who was awarded a decoration for Bravery when the ship Empire Star was attacked by enemy aircraft

Online Resources

• Deptament of Veterans' Affairs, 'Berry, Vera Alexandra', in World War 2 Nominal Roll, Department of Veterans' Affairs, 2002, http://www.ww2roll.gov.au/script/veteran.asp?ServiceID=A&VeteranID=470771. [ Details... ]

See also

• Adam-Smith, Patsy, Australian women at war, Nelson, Melbourne, 1984, 386 pp. [ Details... ]
• Bassett, Jan, Guns and brooches : Australian Army Nursing from the Boer War to the Gulf War, Oxford University Press, Melbourne, 1992, 261 pp. [ Details... ]
• Escott, Beryl E, Twentieth-Century women of courage, Sutton Publishing, Gloucestershire (UK), 1999, 282 pp. [ Details... ]
• Reid, Richard, Just wanted to be there : Australian Service Nurses 1899-1999, Commonwealth Department of Veterans' Affairs, Canberra, 1999, 121 pp. [ Details... ]