Sister Jean (Jenny) Greer was wearing her grey tropical ward dress when she managed to swim ashore after the SS Vyner Brooke was sunk by the Japanese in February 1942. Although she wore this dress when she first became a prisoner of war she later saved it for special occasions such as on birthdays, Anzac Day or the King’s birthday. The dress survived her imprisonment and Sister Greer was able to wear it during her evacuation to Singapore.

Sister Greer also carried a number of personal possessions in her pockets. The few personal items that survived her three and a half years of captivity are now in the Australian War Memorial collection in Canberra.

This envelope was in Sister Greer’s pocket throughout her captivity in Sumatra. She used the envelope to keep her paybook and identity card safe. Although the paybook was no use during her imprisonment, army-training stresses that paybooks should be carried at all times and so it was in Sister Greer’s pocket when the ship sank.

Sister Greer’s identity card was originally pinned insider her paybook.

Sister Greer wore her identiy discs throughout her captivity in Sumatra. The discs are engraved with her name, service number and religion. ‘NX70937 J.K. Greer C.E.’

Although she had no ink, Sister Greer carried her fountain pen during her captivity.