Sisters Under the Rising Sun

Thank you for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Having read Ms Morris’s other works, I had a feeling that I knew what I was in for. To say this book didn’t disappoint, is an understatement.

This was based on a group of women, British, Dutch, Australian and one North American who were imprisoned by the Japanese during WWII. On the 12th of February 1942, the Vyner Brooke was one of the last ships carrying evacuees to leave Singapore. After the ship was hit by the Air Force and sunk, those aboard were taken to POW camps.

This book is full of history, heart and soul. It’s full of character and the demonstration of the incredible will to survive during the most brutal time in life. The group empowered their sisterhood with music. Using their talents, they used the music to keep their own spirits up and those of others.

Ms Morris has yet again taken a true story and made sure that we "Know now of them. Remember them."

'I have not told this story so the women internees of the Japanese prisoner-of-war camps in Indonesia will be remembered. I have told this story so they will be known...alongside those of all male prisoners of war, their suffering no less'.

When Japan entered WW2, after attacking Pearl Harbour, many Pacific Island nations quickly fell under their onslaught. Refugees from the attack in Malaya in early 1942, fled to Singapore only to realise they were no safer, 'Singapore is on fire; ahead the sea is littered with burning wrecks of ships, boats, big and small'. Once again, the need to evacuate was imperative, not only for citizens and expats, but also for medical personnel. Under heavy gunfire, the Vyner Brooke departed; knowing that bombing is inevitable but certain staying meant death. On board: Nora, her husband John, and her sister Ena are desperate to catch up with Nora's daughter Sally who departed on a previous sailing, as well as a cohort of Australian nurses including Nesta. Their sense of relief, as they cast off is but a whisper when just two days later their ship is sunk after a Japanese bombing raid. Every survivor became a prisoner of war. Every day became a war to survive.

Heather Morris deploys the reader directly into Singapore's warzone amongst the chaos and fright of civilians trying to escape, after which, there is a mundanity to the depiction of their prison life, but I feel like that too reflects part of the trial of survival. As an Antipodean, I thoroughly enjoyed Morris's inclusion of the ongoing pavlova 'war'. Indeed, the pavlova was, 'Invented in New Zealand, named in New Zealand, it is a kiwi dish', for the record!

'Sisters Under the Rising Sun' is a moving tale that highlights the often less depicted war in the Pacific. I welcomed the opportunity to learn more about the harrowing time many civilians endured for such a long part of WW2. I believe any fan of historical fiction set in WW2, who enjoys reading about strong women and 'sisterhood' will really appreciate this book.

Norah and John Chambers have to make a difficult choice, they send their eight year old daughter Sally with Norah’s older sister and her two sons who are leaving Singapore. The Japanese army are quickly invading the Pacific, Norah and John, her sister Ena Murray and brother-in-law Ken remain behind with the sisters elderly parents.

Nesta James is a pint-sized nurse and a member of the Australian Army Nursing Service, along with English and Dutch civilians they flee on one of the last boats to leave Singapore aboard the SS Vyner Brooke. The chances of the merchant vessel making it’s way to Australia without being seen by the Japanese would take a miracle, a couple of days later they are spotted off the coast of Indonesia and the bombed SS Vyner Brooke sinks to the bottom of the ocean.

Stranded in the sea, Norah, John, Ena and Nesta and the other survivors make it to Banka Island, the lucky ones are captured by the Japanese, beginning their time as prisoners of war and their captors don’t care about the Geneva Convention. The camps are squalid and over crowded, the women and children are separated from the men, with no sanitation and clean drinking water, barely given enough food to keep them alive, sickness spreads quickly and are constantly relocated. The women come up with ideas to keep going, everyone has to pitch in and help and they from a choir and voice orchestra and preform concerts to boost morale.

I received a copy of Sisters Under the Rising Sun by Heather Morris from Echo Publishing and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. A story about women and children being caught up in a war, what they had to endure over three and a half years was horrific, including physical and mental abuse, depravity and war crimes. The narrative is based on inspirational and real people, including nurses Nesta James, Vivian Bullwinkle and Betty Jeffery, civilians Norah Chambers, Ena Murray, Margaret Dryburgh, Audrey Owen, Mrs. Hinch and Dutch nun sister Catherina.

The ladies maintained the belief they would survive, showed courage and bravery, stuck together and overcame difficulties, they never gave up and found a solution, formed friendships and some kept a secret and shared the joy of music and singing. Five stars from me, Heather Morris and the survivors families wanted the world to know it wasn't only men who were Japanese prisoners of war in Sumatra, women suffered the same hardships and lived with the trauma for the rest of their lives.