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BMH SingaporeHistory of the British Military Hospital Singapore Singapore was an important part of the British Empire and strategically placed on the Malay Peninsula. It was nicknamed the Gibraltar of the Far East. BMH Singapore was also known as Alexandra Hospital or Alexandra Military Hospital and was opened in 1940. Accommodation and the Nursing Sisters Mess were built in nearby Alexandra Park. There were other previous buildings known as BMH Singapore and as the British military presence was increased each hospital became bigger to meet the growing army's medical and nursing needs. BMH Singapore was the principal hospital in the Far East for British troops. Previous hospitals included the first BMH Singapore on Pulau Blakang Mati (Sentosa Island) in 1909 and Tangling Barracks, Singapore in 1912. The photo of BMH Singapore below is from a popular postcard of the 1960s. The book Sub Cruce Candida: A Celebration of One Hundred Years of Army Nursing  has photos of BMH Singapore before the Japanese invasion.
The Chief Draughtsman of this last BMH Singapore was Major J.W. Colbran and the building was designed and constructed by the Royal Engineers. BMH Singapore was three storeys high with a basement and was able to house 356 beds. It was initially run by the 32nd Company of the Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC) until 30 nursing sisters of the Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service (QAIMNS) were posted to BMH Singapore in late 1940. World War Two Singapore was long thought to be far removed from WWII until the Japanese entered the war by bombing Pearl Harbor and the US and British governments declared war on Japan on the 7 December 1941. Japan retaliated by bombing Singapore on 8 December 1941. Casualties were high from this unexpected attack and Japan followed the air attack by landing troops on the nearby Northern Malaya. The Royal Navy sent their battle cruisers HMS Repulse and HMS the Prince of Wales but these were suck on the 10 December 1941 by the Japanese and over 1000 men were lost at sea. The Japanese army progressed through the Malaysia jungle with little resistance. As British troops were wounded and fell back so the QAs cared for them in a variety of hospitals and fell back as Japan advanced. The towns of Kulim, Kuala Lumpur and the state of Johore were evacuated and forward medical units and hospitals pulled back until they sought refuge at Singapore. Many troops, though wounded and travelling under the protection of red crosses were killed by Japanese pilots as they made their way from the overrun Malayan peninsula. This included a brave QA called Mary brand who ran a makeshift operating theatre whilst under fire (cited in Quiet Heroines: Nurses of the Second World War  by Brenda McBryde).
The Fall of SingaporeDespite this advance of the Japanese army the fall of Singapore still came as a surprise to many. Businesses were still carrying on despite air raids at night. Wives and daughters of soldiers were quickly trained as VADs rather than being evacuated to safety. However by the 31 December 1941 it was deemed prudent to evacuate convalescent Australian patients with the nurses to make room in the hospitals. They sailed aboard a former river boat called the Wu Sueh which had been quickly converted to a hospital ship and took some of the patients and nurses to Java. The Selerang Barracks at Changi became the Number 1 Malayan General Hospital whilst the Australian army opened many general hospitals throughout the province such as the 2nd/13th Australian General Hospital at Oldham Hall School and St Patrick’s School. Evacuation Of Children And WomenIt was not until the end of January 1942 that the evacuation of children and women was encouraged, though still not ordered by the Government. Supply ships that were returning empty were made available though some still choose to stay despite the dangers because of the stigma of abandoning their fighting men folk. The first ships to leave laden with civilian women and children departed on the 30 January 1942 for India. These were Westpoint, Wakefield, the Duchess of Bedford and the Empress of Japan (cited in Quiet Heroines: Nurses of the Second World War by Brenda McBryde).
QA nurses entertained themselves with visits to the Raffles Hotel for dances and trips to the cinema during what they thought would be a build up to a long siege. The Malayan peninsula retreat ended on the 31 January 1942 when Causeway was blown up by the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. This did not stop the advance of the Japanese army who commenced an artillery shelling attack on the Island of Singapore. They were reinforced by the Japanese Air Force with a fleet of 530 planes against the 138 older and slower machines of the RAF. News of the atrocities at Hong Kong had now reached Singapore and on the 8 February women and children were evacuated from the Island aboard the Devonshire, Felix Roussel and the Plancius. Hours later Japanese troops landed at the North West Coast. Their first target which they destroyed was the Naval base and dockyard. The nurses were working around the clock to care for the victims of air raids and several hospitals were bombed with the loss of many lives including staff members. This included the 12th Indian General at Tyersall. Evacuation Of Female NursesThe RAF Squadron 232 were forced to move to Sumatra on the 10 February and the Commanding Officer of Singapore Garrison, General Percival, knew that this marked the end of British rule. His priority became to evacuate as many women still nursing at the hospitals and 20 civilian nurses were evacuated on the Wu Sueh. On the 11 February half of the nurses on the Island sailed on the cargo ship Empire Star. No member of the QAIMNS would leave and the Principal Matron, Miss Jones, had to choose who would leave for safety and who would stay behind. The Empire Star was packed with 2150 people mostly in the hold and Captain Capon managed to guide the ship to the safety of Batavia harbour despite attacks by Japanese bombers and many soldiers on deck died under their machine gun fire. Life in the hospitals became more strained with the fear of an imminent invasion, increased wounded being admitted and the reduced staff after the evacuation of 50% of the female nurses. Things were made worse when locals abandoned their posts and nursing staff had to undertake additional roles and activities like cooking. Surgeons operated round the clock to cope with the wounded soldiers and civilians from bomb injuries. On the 12 February 1942 smaller boats were made available in an effort to evacuate more female nurses. This included the Vyner-Brooke that evacuated 65 Australian Army Nursing Service (AANS) Sisters. Sadly she was later sunk with the loss of 12 of the Sisters. Friday the 13th 1942 saw more nurses and VADs being able to sail from Singapore aboard the Tien Kwang, Kuala and the Mata Hari. Before they could sail they were dive bombed by Japanese planes and many more lives were lost. Their bad luck continued when they sailed into a fleet of Japanese boats that were on their way to invade Sumatra. The Captains were able to evade the fleet by hiding in the lee of the surrounding islands. The SS Kuala was attacked whilst at sea by a Japanese pilot and this attack resulted in the death of Principal Matron Miss Jones of the QAIMNS, Mrs Cherry of the Malayan Auxiliary Nursing Services, Miss Spedding of the 20th CGH, Miss Russell of the 17th CGH and Miss West of the 1st Malayan who were in a meeting discussing the care of the wounded. The bomb also killed other QAs such as Helen Montgomerie and Lorna Symondson. The boat had to be evacuated because of a fire and more nurses were killed because they were unable to get a lifejacket. Brenda McBryde in Quiet Heroines: Nurses of the Second World War cites the figures as 18 QAs and 5 TANS (Territorial Army Nursing Service).
Other ships fared no better and many were destroyed in the minefields and also attacked by Japanese planes. Many of those that did survive were lost at sea. BMH Singapore War AtrocitiesDuring the height of World War Two on the 15 February 1942 Singapore fell to the Japanese Army. BMH Singapore saw some war atrocities carried out by the troops of Japan. At about 1pm Japanese troops advanced to BMH Singapore with the leading soldier carrying their red and white Japanese flag. At this time the Commanding Officer (CO) of BMH Singapore, Lieutenant Colonel Craven (RAMC), was discussing the hospital's surrender with the hospital Chaplain and the hospital Registrar, Major H. Henderson and Major J. W. D. Bull. The hospital was clearly marked with a red cross but this did not save the patients and staff from the savagery of these enemy soldiers. Captain J. E. Bartlett of the RAMC went to meet them and as he said the word Hospital he was fired upon and a hand grenade was thrown. This started an attack upon the hospital and those within by about 100 armed Japanese troops with bayonets attacked to their rifles. He escaped this and rushed to the CO's office to report the advancing troops and the attack. Major Bull held up a red cross flag to the window and was immediately shot at. More shots were fired at the hospital followed by explosions. The officers made their way from the top floor to the ground floor and found many doctors, nurses and patients dead from gunshot wounds and shrapnel from the bombardment. Japanese AtrocitiesThe Japanese troops now entered British Military Hospital Singapore and fired upon anyone they met. As they got closer they bayoneted patients and staff, even a patient who was still anaesthetised on the operating theatre table was bayoneted to death. As unarmed members of the RAMC tried to surrender they were mercilessly bayoneted by the Japanese soldiers. Those who came to their aid were shot. Some of the injured, despite painful wounds, played dead. This included Captain Smiley and Private Sutton who were able to survive and tell of these atrocities. Wounded patients and hospital staff that did survive this massacre were taken prisoner by the Japanese and were bound and force marched to some buildings nearby to the Ayer Rajah Road. Any that fell down were bayoneted to death. The prisoners were locked into three small rooms no more than 10 feet by 12 feet. Up to 70 were crammed, still bound, into each room. Doors and windows were barricaded and there was no ventilation, food, drink or toilet facilities. They were left there till the next morning by which time many more died of their wounds or dehydration. When the doors were opened a Japanese officer took some of the prisoners away telling them they were going to get water. Their screams were heard by the remaining prisoners. They had been bayoneted to death. The others tried to escape or overcome their guards and an onslaught took place where all the British servicemen were killed other than a few that managed to escape. This included Captain R. de Warrenne Waller, Corporal C.N.C. Bryer, Corporal G.W. Johnson, Private S.W.J Hoskins and Private F.A.H. Gurd. QAs had been evacuated several days before with some patients because of Japanese atrocities upon nurses being reported from Hong Kong. Read more on the BMH Bowen Road Hong Kong page. Many of those evacuated from Singapore perished aboard hospital ships during attacks by Japanese planes or were caught and interned as Prisoners of War. This included Margot Turner. That page tells their story of these early days of the fall of Singapore and how she and others bravely endured atrocious conditions at Japanese prisons and camps after the fall of Singapore. Surrender of JapanSingapore remained in the rule of Japan until the end of World War Two and the Allies accepted the surrender of Japan. Britain once against opened up BMH Singapore and treated military patients, including rescued prisoners from Japanese camps such as Margot Turner who had spent over three years in brutal and harsh conditions. Though BMH Singapore had been left in a terrible state by the Japanese it only took the British two days to make her a functioning hospital once more. Lifts had to be repaired and there was no furniture nor beds. The Japanese had also destroyed the X-ray machines and left no equipment that they could readily and easily take away such as sheets, beds, blankets and instruments. The captured troops of Japan were ordered to work as fatigue groups and even Lady Louis Mountbatten helped to restock BMH Singapore using her contacts to quickly replace equipment. Victory Parade SingaporeAt the end of WWII victory parades took place all over the world and Singapore was no exception. The RAMC and QAIMNS took part in the victory parade march past of Singapore in 1945.There is a picture of the QAs march past in the book Sub Cruce Candida: A Celebration of One Hundred Years of Army Nursing .
Help Needed: Qaranc.co.uk would like to add a page about the QA lanyard but need some help. Can anyone please help with a photo of the lanyard on the uniform and a photo of just the lanyard? It would also be helpful if anyone can give some tips on how to site and fit the lanyard. Please use the e-mail address on the contact page. Thank you! Sisters In Arms: British Army Nurses Tell Their Story Sisters In Arms: British Army Nurses Tell Their Story  by Nicola Tyrer is an account of the QAs during the two World Wars. It includes first hand accounts of the Queen Alexandra nurses who were in the dressing stations, casualty clearing stations and field hospitals of Dunkirk, D Day, the fall of Singapore and many more locations where the QAIMNS served.
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Sisters In Arms: British Army Nurses Tell Their Story is also available as a talking book read by the actress Barbara Flynn and Sian Thomas. Buy Now. 
View More British Army Nursing Books - with free delivery available. The Garrison Church in Singapore held the Reredos Memorial Chapel which was dedicated to the memory of the QAIMNS and VAD nurses that were killed during World War Two. The book Sub Cruce Candida: A Celebration of One Hundred Years of Army Nursing has a photograph of the Reredos Memorial Chapel in Alexandra Garrison Church.
Singapore MemorialAfter the Second World War those nurses who lost their lives during the fall of Singapore were remembered on a special Singapore Memorial. The 48 names were from the Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service (QAIMNS), and the Reserves (QAIMNS), Territorial Army Nursing Services (TANS), Queen Alexandra's Indian Military Nursing Service (QAIMNS) and the Auxiliary Indian Nursing Service (QAAINS). They are also listed in the Nurses' Roll of Honour in Westminster Abbey in London. Their names are also listed in Quiet Heroines: Nurses of the Second World War by Brenda McBryde.
Malayan FederationIn 1957 the Malayan Federation was formed and this marked the end of the Colonial Rule of Malaya by Great Britain. Singapore became an independent nation in 1965. Units and hospitals closed and withdrew from the area such as BMH Tanah Rata in Malaysia. Though BMH Singapore remained open and a British presence was retained in the area for several more years to aid the recently formed Malayan Federation. They were engaged under the Anglo-Malayan Defence Agreement until the British army withdrew in July to August 1971. British Military Hospital Singapore closed in 1971 as the British troops left. The closure ceremony was filmed on behalf of the Commanding Officer, Col G.L. Humphreys L/RAMC, on old cini film, though this would have been the technology of the day. The CO's daughter, Julie, also worked at BMH Singapore as a QARANC NCO nurse. First Ghurka QA Recruits The first Ghurka QA recruits enlisted at Singapore and were posted to Queen Alexandra Camp, the Depot and Training Establishment in Hindhead in November 1962. (cited in the book Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps (Famous Regts. S)  by Juliet Piggott).
Alexandra HospitalBMH Singapore was handed over, for the token payment of $1, to the Government of Singapore in 1971 and retained the name Alexandra Hospital. BMH Singapore is now the civilian Alexandra Hospital. There are photographs of how the hospital looks now at their website of www.alexhosp.com.sg whilst the book Sub Cruce Candida: A Celebration of One Hundred Years of Army Nursing
has photos of BMH Singapore throughout the decades, including the Second World War.
If you would like to contribute any info, photographs or share your memories of BMH Iserlohn then please contact me. Black and White House Alexandra Park There is a black and white house in Alexandra Park, near to Alexandra Hospital. It is now owned by an Australian midwife who would like to learn more about the history of the house, previous owners, etc. She is also interested in any information about Alexandra Park from the years 1928 to 2007. The house is number 3 Canterbury Road, Alexandra Park. If you can help then please contact me so that I may pass on any info. Thank you! A British Army Nurse In the Korean War A newly published book about the QARANC is 
A British Army Nurse In the Korean War
by Elizabeth Jilly McNair. QA Sister McNair saw active service in Korea and Japan and this book is based on her letters home and photographs she took during her 18 months
spent nursing at the British Commonwealth General Hospital in Kure, Japan and the British Commonwealth Zone Medical Unit in Seoul, Korea.
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If you would like to contribute to this page, suggest changes or inclusions to this website or would like to send me a photograph then please e-mail me. The photos and pictures on this page have been kindly sent to us for inclusion on this page. If you would like to contribute photographs then please contact us. Findextrawork 
Since leaving the QA's we have done an assortment of self employed work and jobs, some which only take an hour a week, others have been full time. We
have written about these at our other website Findextrawork at
www.findextrawork.co.uk
where we share the information for free to help others with information and resources about earning more money.
Visit Findextrawork for more information.
For the official Army QARANC webpage please go to www.army.mod.uk/qaranc/index.html For the QARANC Association website please go to http://www.army.mod.uk/qaranc/qaranc_assn/index.htm |
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