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. Few people know of the tragedy that struck Rabaul in January, 1942; a territory significant to Australia which fell into Japanese hands; a territory where Australians fought and were captured by an overwhelming invasion force; the shocking loss of life, imprisonment and horrific executions of those attempting escape. The plight so seldom mentioned of the the local Chinese, the indigenous population and that of the Missionaries were all tragic events, and the plight of the nurses no less significant. And 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.

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 with the Publisher's family
Sydney 1987

In collaboration with Bowie I researched her manuscript for a number of years to finally produce her story in 1997. I am exceptionally proud to have played my role in making the publication possible. I am grateful for the ongoing support I have received from my family and friends, both before and after the book was published. 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 awareness of the Australian army nurses who had served in Rabaul. 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. Although a lot of time has passed since Not Now Tomorrow was published, it continues to attract interest. 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.

Whytie and the Publisher - Brisbane 2002

There has been very little public knowledge of the nurses captured in New Guinea, both civilian and army — the army nurses being among those hostages to fortune option, albeit a grim one, chosen by the Australian Government late in 1941 — an option extended, also, to the civilian nurses, who were granted permission from the government to remain. Until Bowie's book was forthcoming no intimate story 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 story 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 the debacle that was Rabaul in Not Now Tomorrow, yet her story is first and foremost the story of The Rabaul Nurses and it was decided appropriate, therefore, to put pen to paper under Bowie's maiden name.

Bowie and her best friend, Joyce McGahan, pictured (standing) on the cover of Not Now Tomorrow with Bowie (seated) applied, in New Guinea, 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 in 1941) 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 to duty and serve 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 a very brief assault on an inadequately fortified Australian outpost.

The Rabaul Nurses of the Second World War

Lorna Whyte Johnston (Whytie) at unveiling of
Australian Service Nurses National Memorial
Anzac Avenue Canberra - 1999 ©

There can be no greater honour 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; 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. In the call of duty they gave of themselves; they shared the same uncertain fate as captives for more than three and a half years; shared the same anxiety and the same faith in tomorrow. Bowie sought no glory, she was no lover of glory; she merely wished to put her story in print as a mark of respect to her colleagues. It is something nothing, she would say, yet I know she would be truly proud to share this recognition of her fellow nurses, as I am for my part in bringing her story to fruition.

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

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

It is my hope that this Web site will help provoke interest in the quest to find answers and bring forth the truth, because only then will there be peace for those who grieve the loss of loved ones whose graves have never been determined and might, or might not, lie at the bottom of the sea in that forgotten prison ship.