Sister nell

[Ian Adrian Millar]

SISTER NELL

Sister Nell the only nurse,
To survive the ship CENTAUR.
Did her best, to help the rest,
Many lost in danger's hour.

She was lit up like a Christmas tree,
Red crosses on her side.
There was a great explosion,
Australian merchant seamen died.

Captain Murray sailed from Sydney,
To New Guinea they were bound.
They were sailing off Cape Moreton,
When Nakagawa sent her down.

Three minutes passed and all was done,
The CENTAUR was no more.
So many died and loved ones cried,
At rest on ocean's floor.

Ian Adrian Millar

[Keith at Tregenna]

Sister Nell Savage.

In the book Guns and Brooches (Jan Bassett, Oxford University press, Australia, 1992. ISBN 0 19 554084 0) she is quoted (p.167) as writing:

"...my cabin mate, Merle Moston (sic) and myself were awakened by two terrific explosions and practically thrown out of bed. Sister Moston and I were so shocked we did not even speak, but I registered mentally that it was a torpedo explosion."

Sister Savage was badly injured, the book continues, when she was sucked down with the sinking ship. She suffered fractured ribs, nose and palate, perforated ear drums and bruises. She hid these injuries from fellow survivors while she attended to the wounded and dying. She was later awarded the George Medal.

a bit of everything: AHS CENTAUR - 14 May 1943