White Coolies

White Coolies
Running time	30 mins
Country of origin	Australia
Language	English
Starring	Ruth Cracknell; June Salter; Margaret Christensen; Madge Ryan; Joan Lander; Diana Perryman
Written by	Gwen Friend
Produced by	Fifi Banvard
Original release	9 October 1955 –; 1956
No. of series	1
No. of episodes	52

White Coolies
Author	Betty Jeffrey
Language	English
Subject	World War Two
Genre	memoir
Publisher	Angus & Robertson
Publication date	1954
Publication place	Australia

White Coolies is a 1954 memoir by Australian nurse Betty Jeffrey about her experiences in World War Two. This included surviving the sinking of the Vyner Brook, escaping a massacre, and being in a camp on Sumatra.

Background

It was based on a diary she secretly kept in the camp.

Reception

The book was a best seller, selling more than 70,000 copies in Australia.

The book was adapted into a hugely successful radio serial.

Radio serial

The book was adapted into a 1955 radio serial.

It was one of the most acclaimed Australian radio serials of all time. There was a mostly female cast and a female writer and director, which was rare for the time.

Cast

Ruth Cracknell as Betty Jeffrey
June Salter as Iole Harper
Margaret Christensen as Sister Delforce
Madge Ryan as Matron Paschke
Joan Lander as Sister Woodbridge
Diana Perryman

References

↑ "WHITE COOLIES". Brisbane Telegraph. Queensland, Australia. 1 March 1954. p. 11 (CITY FINAL). Retrieved 1 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
↑ "Girl guests of the Japs". The Daily Telegraph. Vol. XV, no. 23. New South Wales, Australia. 25 April 1954. p. 18. Retrieved 1 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
↑ "They also serve". The Canberra Times. Vol. 52, no. 15, 567. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 22 April 1978. p. 11. Retrieved 1 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
↑ Australia. Department of Education.; Australia. Department of Education and Science.; Australia. Commonwealth Office of Education. (February 1960) [1957], "THE BOOKS AUSTRALIANS READ", Section v. : ill. (some col.); 28 cm., Hemisphere, 4 (2), North Sydney, N.S.W: Dept. of Education and Science, ISSN 0018-0300, nla.obj-3135886198, retrieved 1 June 2023 – via Trove
↑ "Army nurses' war drama as KZ serial". The Age Radio Supplement. 6 October 1955. p. 1.
↑ Philp, Peter (2016). Drama in silent rooms. Eureka Media. pp. 448–452.
↑ "First Visit to Melbourne". The Age. 26 November 1955. Retrieved 19 February 2026 – via www.newspapers.com.

External links

Complete show at Internet Archive

This article about a nonfiction book on World War II is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by adding missing information.

[1] "WHITE COOLIES". Brisbane Telegraph. Queensland, Australia. 1 March 1954. p. 11 (CITY FINAL). Retrieved 1 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.

[2] "Girl guests of the Japs". The Daily Telegraph. Vol. XV, no. 23. New South Wales, Australia. 25 April 1954. p. 18. Retrieved 1 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.

[3] "They also serve". The Canberra Times. Vol. 52, no. 15, 567. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 22 April 1978. p. 11. Retrieved 1 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.

[4] Australia. Department of Education.; Australia. Department of Education and Science.; Australia. Commonwealth Office of Education. (February 1960) [1957], "THE BOOKS AUSTRALIANS READ", Section v. : ill. (some col.); 28 cm., Hemisphere, 4 (2), North Sydney, N.S.W: Dept. of Education and Science, ISSN 0018-0300, nla.obj-3135886198, retrieved 1 June 2023 – via Trove

[5] "Army nurses' war drama as KZ serial". The Age Radio Supplement. 6 October 1955. p. 1.

[6] Philp, Peter (2016). Drama in silent rooms. Eureka Media. pp. 448–452.

[7] "First Visit to Melbourne". The Age. 26 November 1955. Retrieved 19 February 2026 – via www.newspapers.com.