White Coolies

by Betty Jeffrey

Angus and Robertson, 1954, black and white illustrations at chapter starts, illustrated endpapers (maps), hardcover, dustjacket

Very Good Condition, some edge and shelf wear, a little rubbing and bumping to edges and corners, previous owners’ gift inscription reverse endpaper, previous owners’ details on half title page, dustjacket shows some edge and shelf wear with some rubbing, bumping, chipping, creasing and small tears, re-enforced on reverse with tape (See photographs)

“This is the first published account of the experiences of an Australian Army Nursing Sister in the hands of the Japanese.  Sister Jeffrey’s direct and unpretentious record, written for the most part in prison camps and under constant threat of discovery, has a force and vividness that the most highly coloured writing could not achieve.
The story begins with the evacuation of the Australian nurses from Singapore and the sinking of the Vyner Brooke, on which many of them were travelling.  Sister Jeffrey reached land after three days in the water and was made a prisoner, along with those of her companions who had escaped drowning and massacre.  The diary goes on to describe their captivity; the attempts to force Australian nurses to “entertain” Japanese officers, the hunger, sickness, and almost incredible over-crowding of the prison camps, the misery of forced labour under these conditions, and the tragedy as one after another of the devoted band of friends succumbs to starvation and ill-treatment.”