Sisters Under the Rising Sun

In Singapore in February 1942, English mother Norah Chambers waits for her eight-year-old daughter, Sally, to wake. When Sally does, Norah tells her that she must evacuate the city with her aunt and cousins. The cousins are excited about the voyage to Australia, but Sally is inconsolable. Norah promises that she and Sally’s father, John, who has typhus, will follow soon.

They ride through a city under bombardment toward the wharf. Sally cries and avoids her mother. At the waterfront, a nearby explosion heightens the fear. As Sally clings to Norah, her aunt lifts the child and runs toward the ship. Norah’s younger sister, Ena Murray, restrains Norah from chasing them. Norah calls reassurances to Sally as she is carried away but wonders if they will ever see each other again.

Days after Norah sends Sally away, bombs fall on Singapore as Ena’s husband, Ken Murray, persuades a reluctant Ena to evacuate with Norah and the ailing John Chambers. Ken promises to stay to care for his parents-in-law. As they move through the smoke toward the HMS Vyner Brooke, Norah relives parting from Sally. They join other evacuees, including a contingent of Australian Army nurses, one of whom,