Speeches
Thursday, 07 November 2024
Australian Virtual War Museum Dr Janet Scarfe Book launch
I am delighted to be here at the Torrens Parade Ground Drill Hall in the lead up to Remembrance Day to launch Dr Janet Scarfe’s book, which tells the story of Dorothy “Puss” Campbell, World War 2 Army nursing sister.
I am pleased to do so, as, so often, our history of war is told through the lens of great victories and defeats, times of crisis and of tragedy, that of lives cut short.
And throughout history, women’s stories have rarely been given the prominence they deserve.
This book is different.
With the discovery of Puss’s diaries and photos after her death at the age of 96, her niece and historian Janet Scarfe has woven from brief notes a compelling narrative of Puss’s life in the Australian Army Nursing Service, 2,247 days of service, 889 of them overseas.
The service of World War II nurses has also touched my family with my grandfathers’ cousin Patricia Cashmore – my cousin twice removed – drowned at sea when the troopship Khedive Ismail sailing from Mombasa to Colombo was sunk by a Japanese submarine in 1944.
I am delighted that Loxton has honoured the memory of many servicemen and women in the names of its streets, and Patricia is among them.
And, speaking as Governor, I know Puss Campbell would have visited Government House, as Lady Muriel Barclay-Harvey, wife of the then Governor hosted a club for nurses to relax and meet while on leave in South Australia.
The veranda Puss would have walked along and the fireplace she would have sat next to and had a cup of tea and a chat have changed little since those times.
On opening the book, I was drawn to the 1941 photo of Puss. She is proudly wearing her neat uniform and hat slightly to the side but not enough to be jaunty.
The glimmer in her eyes and warm smile told me she had a spirit within her. She loved life alongside her dedication to nursing.
We can well imagine the Great Adventure that the young woman from near Kapunda, by leaving Australia as a war nurse for places unknown, had in England, Egypt, the Middle East, and Papua New Guinea before service back in Australia.
Surprisingly, the book, in reconstructing Puss’s service, tells us that there was quite a bit of down time from nursing on postings and also while awaiting orders for the next deployment.
Yes, there were some harsh conditions. Yes, she treated battle scars as well as more mundane diseases. Yes, she looked after our “boys” including the Rats of Tobruk. Yes, there were some deprivations and military bureaucracy.
But time on leave enabled the nurses to be tourists and explore such sights as Windsor Castle, Selfridges, the Great Pyramids, the bazaars, and souks of the Middle East and have a game of golf!
Through Janet’s narrative and over 300 photos, we also learn of friendships made, some romances, and officers’ parties in grand hotels.
We also learn of the deep friendships made that have endured and of the importance these women always gave to commemorating Anzac Day.
To Janet and your sister Sue, thank you for finding the diaries, transcribing them, and interweaving their contents with official records and daily orders from army headquarters to tell Puss’ story.
In doing so you have made the stories of Australian war nurses writ large more accessible.
Ultimately, though, the book is a tribute to the spirit of adventure, resourcefulness, and mateship which shines through its pages.
It gives me great pleasure to declare “Her Great Adventure: Dorothy ‘Puss’ Campbell, WWII Army Nursing Sister” launched.