The Publisher 1987

Claire Déglon Marriott

Publisher's word & more about the Story

In 1942, New Guinea was a Mandated Trust Territory of Australia granted by the League of Nations in 1921. Rabaul stood on this Australian protected soil as the centre of Administration and few people are aware of the misfortune that struck this territory, significant to Australia, in January 1942 when it fell into Japanese hands. A handful of Australians fought and were captured by an overwhelming invasion force; shocking loss of life, imprisonment and horrific executions of those attempting escape followed. The seldom mentioned plight of the local Chinese, the indigenous population and the Missionaries were all tragic events, and the plight of the nurses no less significant. The final result of the fall of Rabaul lingers in the everlasting trauma of the loved ones of those who have no known grave or who have supposed graves over which there are shadows of doubt — and I refer here to the sinking of the prison ship Montevideo Maru. The saga of this ship's tragedy is slowly but steadily being recognised in this year of 2010, sixty-five years since it became known in Australia!

Alice M Bowman, who preferred to be known as Bowie, married my father some years after they had both returned from the Second World War. They left Australia to live in South Africa, which was my father's birthplace and to where he had always longed to return. Bowie continued her nursing in South Africa before and after my father died in 1977 and ten years later made a nostalgic trip home to Australia. It was her intention to eventually return permanently to this "wide brown land" but, sadly, lack of finance and declining health in the next decade prevented Bowie's return and she died in South Africa in January 2000. Many nurses (army and civilian), who have worked with Bowie or did their training with her, have contacted me since reading her story and spoken highly and lovingly of her. She has left a wealth of friends in Australia and South Africa.

Birth of a Book

The Author 1987

With the Publisher's family in Sydney

In collaboration with Bowie I researched her manuscript for a number of years to finally produce her book in 1997. I am pleased to have made my contribution in making the publication possible and thank my family and friends for the support I have received. I am particularly grateful to those stalwarts of the Australian Army Nursing Service, retired and present members, who received Not Now Tomorrow with open arms. It was described as a gift from heaven, surfacing at a time when there was little knowledge of the six Australian army nurses who served in Rabaul; who were captured and became prisoners-of war with the first Japanese onslaught in the Pacific. The book was, in reality, Bowie's gift to her colleagues. Sadly, it was not possible for Bowie to journey to Australia to indulge in what would have been an enterprising and rewarding author tour; accordingly the marketing was not as intense as it might have been. I am thankful for the reviews presented in several newspapers and magazines around the country in 1997 and an extra special thankyou goes to Ian MacNamara of Australia All Over and Northern Rivers ABC radio for such stimulating interviews. Although a lot of time has passed since Not Now Tomorrow was published, it continues to attract interest.

Whytie and the Publisher 2002

At long last public awareness is gaining momentum about the nurses captured in New Guinea, both civilian and army — the army nurses being among those hostages to fortune; a harsh destiny opted by the Australian Government late in 1941 — an option also extended to the civilian nurses, who were given permission from the government to remain. Until Bowie's book was forthcoming no intimate book had been published about the Rabaul army nurses, prisoners-of-war, as there had been about the Singapore army nurses captured escaping from the fall of Singapore and their horrendous three and a half years imprisonment. Two accounts of their imprisonment were published in 1954, written by two of the captured Australian Singapore nurses: White Coolies by Betty Jeffery and While History Passed by Jessie Simons. Needless to say they are particularly moving stories; the one White Coolies was produced as a widescreen film, Paradise Road, in 1997. On their departure from Rabaul to an undisclosed destination The Rabaul Nurses were told they would be going to Paradise! The Japanese favoured this exotic description of their country — the Lord of Infinite Light is said to dwell in Paradise in the Pure Land in the West of Heaven. To the true followers of the strongest Buddhist sect in Japan, Jodo-shinshu (True Pure Land Buddhism), their islands were considered the land of Paradise, an extension on Earth of the greater sphere above.

That Rabaul suffered great tragedy when it fell into Japanese hands and that there are unanswered questions concerning many who did not return there is no doubt. In discussions with Bowie, the decision was made to cover some of the debacle that was Rabaul in her book, yet first and foremost it is the story of The Rabaul Nurses, therefore it was decided appropriate to put pen to paper under Bowie's maiden name.

In 1941, Bowie and her best friend, Joyce McGahan, pictured (standing) on the cover of Not Now Tomorrow with Bowie (seated) made an application to join the Australian Army Nursing Service. Under the supervision of Dr Brennan, the then Director of Public Health in New Guinea, they successfully passed the entrance exams and medical requirements (conducted in Rabaul) and were patiently awaiting call-up. The Japanese struck all too soon before their final papers materialised. Working for the Australian Government, they were serving their country but their wish was to formally answer Australia's call by enlisting in the Australian Army Nursing Service. Bowie and Joyce did not know it then, but, when the first bombs were dropped on Rabaul, on the 4th January 1942, it was their destiny to serve in the front line of duty during the brief assault on an inadequately fortified Australian outpost.

The Rabaul Nurses of the Second World War

Lorna (Whytie) Johnston 1999

Unveiling of
Australian Service Nurses National Memorial
Anzac Avenue Canberra © Claire Marriott

There can be no greater respect bestowed on The Rabaul Nurses, on Bowie or on her book about them, Not Now Tomorrow, than to have its significant title etched in perpetuity among the engravings on the Australian Service Nurses' National Memorial in Anzac Avenue, Canberra. It is a lasting tribute to the memory of the Army nurses of Rabaul who were lost in time for three and a half years: a tribute which also honours their civilian colleagues, who, with the Australian Army nurses, comprise the The Rabaul Nurses of the Second World War. They willingly gave their service in the call of duty; as captives they shared the same uncertain fate; the same anxiety and the same faith in tomorrow. Bowie sought no glory, she was no lover of glory; her greatest wish was to see her story in print as a mark of respect to her colleagues.

With historical books written these days several institutions offer grants to assist with financial outlay for research, production, marketing and the like. No such grant was received for Not Now Tomorrow; the book was produced entirely at the expense of the publisher under the house name of Daisy Press — created exclusively for its publication.

"Their service Our heritage."
Quoted from the Department of Veterans' Affairs Commemorative Program.

As well as presenting the story of The Rabaul Nurses, it is my hope that this website will help to stimulate wider interest in the quest to bring forth the truth about those whose graves have yet to be determined and find answers about the mournful souls who are said to lie at the bottom of the sea in the hold of an ill-fated prison ship the Montevideo Maru.