Massacred Nurses Immortalised With Statue of Sole Survivor

Vivian Bullwinkel’s story is now set permanently in bronze at the Australian War Memorial. Courtesy of Australian War Memorial

The Australian War Memorial has unveiled a sculpture of Lieutenant Colonel Vivian Bullwinkel, who was the only surviving nurse of the Bangka Island Massacre from World War II, where the Japanese killed 21 of her fellow nurses.

The bronze statue by Australian Artist Charles Robb commemorates the courage of the volunteer nurses while serving their country during the war.