An Australian Army nurse killed in World War II was honoured by an all‑female catafalque party during a Last Post ceremony at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra on April 15.

Lieutenant Irene Singleton was aboard the Vyner Brooke, being evacuated from Singapore with other nurses, when the ship was sunk by Japanese bombs.

Twelve nurses drowned and 21 were massacred after reaching Bangka Island in Indonesia. Lieutenant Singleton survived and was taken prisoner. 

Held first at Muntok and later in camps at Palembang, Irenelaan and Puncak Sekuning, she endured starvation, tropical disease and overcrowding.

She died on February 20, 1945, never knowing that her brothers, Douglas and Kenneth, were killed in North Africa in 1942.

Her family was notified of Lieutenant Singleton’s death in September 1945, weeks after Japan’s surrender.

Able Seaman Grace McCarter, of the Federation Guard, and a member of the all‑female catafalque party, said learning about Lieutenant Singleton’s experience as a nurse and prisoner of war showed that military service extended beyond combat roles.

“Australian service isn’t just about the battlefield; it’s about care, compassion and staying true to the service you provide to your country,” Able Seaman McCarter said.

'They [women] were also on the frontline and played a significant role in the conflicts we faced.'

She said recognising the cost of service demanded precision and respect at every ceremony.

“We won’t put anyone on parade unless they’re up to standard, because the stakes are high,” Able Seaman McCarter said.

Leading Aircraftwoman Chantelle Bradford said the all‑female catafalque party acknowledged the contributions of women, particularly nurses, in Australia’s military history.

She said ceremonies such as this one reinforced the visibility and recognition of women’s service.

“They were also on the frontline and played a significant role in the conflicts we faced,” Leading Aircraftwoman Bradford said.

For first-time guard commander Leading Seaman Isobel Gent, the ceremony carried personal significance. It linked her own service with her grandmother, a former Royal Australian Air Force nurse, who was in attendance.

She said honouring Lieutenant Singleton while her grandmother watched reinforced the responsibility of carrying the legacy of women who served before.

“It makes me really proud to put the uniform on and have that connection with someone in my own family who served,” Leading Seaman Gent said.