If Fish Had a Wishbone (Paperback)

Anthony Hogger

ISBN 10: 1835840884 / ISBN 13: 9781835840887

Published by Rowanvale Books, 2026

About this Item

Paperback. The Pacific, 1942. Japanese forces are attacking Singapore. After months of chaos, Australian Army nurse Lieutenant Vivian Bullwinkel and sixty-four colleagues find themselves ordered to abandon their hospitals and the wounded men in them. Singapore is lost, and their only hope of escape is aboard the SS Vyner Brooke and through the infamous strait known as Bomb Alley. The ship lasts for two days before it is sunk by Japanese bombers. Vivian and her best friend, Nancy Harris, are amongst the survivors who wash up on Radji Beach. Theres no food and precious little medical supplies, and they soon find they have little choice but to surrender themselves to the Japanese whose soldiers are not known for their mercy. Based on the true story of the nurses of the Vyner Brooke, If Fish Had a Wishbone is a gripping and powerful novel of friendship, courage and fortitude in the face of unimaginable terror. For readers of When We Had Wings and Angels of the Pacific. If Fish Had a Wishbone is intended to both entertain and educate the reader about a point in history that many will be completely unaware of. It tells the story of some incredible feats of individual bravery and sacrifice from some very ordinary, but extraordinary women, doing an incredible job in the Pacific theatre during WW2. Shipping may be from our UK warehouse or from our Australian or US warehouses, depending on stock availability.

Seller Inventory # 9781835840887

Bibliographic Details

• Title: If Fish Had a Wishbone (Paperback)
• Publisher: Rowanvale Books
• Publication Date: 2026
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1835840884
• ISBN 13: 9781835840887
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: new

About this title

Synopsis

The Pacific, 1942. Japanese forces are attacking Singapore.

After months of chaos, Australian Army nurse Lieutenant Vivian Bullwinkel and sixty-four colleagues find themselves ordered to abandon their hospitals and the wounded men in them. Singapore is lost, and their only hope of escape is aboard the SS Vyner Brooke and through the infamous strait known as Bomb Alley.

The ship lasts for two days before it is sunk by Japanese bombers.

Vivian and her best friend, Nancy Harris, are amongst the survivors who wash up on Radji Beach. There’s no food and precious little medical supplies, and they soon find they have little choice but to surrender themselves to the Japanese – whose soldiers are not known for their mercy.

Based on the true story of the nurses of the Vyner Brooke, If Fish Had a Wishbone is a gripping and powerful novel of friendship, courage and fortitude in the face of unimaginable terror. For readers of When We Had Wings and Angels of the Pacific.