Austn Nurses Under Fire: 'Beyond the Battlefield' military history talk

Join us for a dive into military history at our 'Beyond the Battlefield' talks where we explore untold or little-known stories.

Welcome to our June Friends of Kokoda (FoK) 'Beyond the Battlefield' military history talk event.

Join us on Saturday 13 June 2026 at 10:30 AM at the Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway's Ralph Honner Education Centre, where our speakers discuss military history topics, both on and beyond the battlefield.

Our June talk will see prolific author and military history expert Colin Burgess reveal another fascinating story of bravery and resilience: 'Australian Nurses Under Fire'. Based on his soon-to-be-published book ’Sisters Under Fire’, Colin Burgess tells of the heroics of two Australian nurses - Vera Torney and Margaret Anderson - who demonstrated extraordinary courage and dedication when their ship (the ‘Empire Star’) was attacked by Japanese aircraft during the seaborne evacuation of Singapore. Both Vera and Margaret received awards for bravery. The talk will also tell of the desperate need to evacuate Australian nurses safely back to Australia as Japanese troops swept into Singapore.

Colin has published over 40 books, focussing on Australian military history topics as well as human space exploration. He spoke at the Walkway in November 2025 on his book 'Nurses in Captivity'.

Admission for members of the FoK program is free; others can pay a small donation of $5.00 on the day (or through our website).

Connect with fellow military history enthusiasts at the Walkway and don't miss out on this unique experience!