One Jump Ahead: Escape on the Vyner Brooke

by A.J. Mann, Harry Nicholson

With an opening and conclusion by Harry Nicholson, this is principally the memoir of Lt A J Mann, 2nd Mate of SS Vyner Brooke, written in 1952. His account of his escape from Singapore, the loss of his ship, and his astounding flight through the Dutch East Indies to the safety of Australia is a vital primary source. The memoir is an important document that adds to the story of those Australian nurses who fell into the clutches of the Japanese army. The original typed foolscap has been placed by Harry Nicholson into the keeping of the Australian Memorial.

150 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 30, 2020

Reviews

[Helena Schrader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sober Account of an escape from Singapore


This is a valuable firsthand account of a merchant navy officer's escape from Singapore in 1942. His ship, carrying hundreds civilians, women, children and nurses fleeing before the Japanese, was bombed and sunk while still in Japanese controlled waters. His account is straightforward and devoid of melodrama. The story is unembellished and unsanitized, giving it rare authenticity. Human nature in all its shades is on display. Despite the author's survival, his tale is devoid of towering act of heroism or self-sacrifice from anyone. Instead, the scale of the calamity that engulfed Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia is vividly depicted. This is the real face of war.

[Mrs Olga A Danes-Volkov · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating story

We have to thank Harry Nicholson whose own memoirs are such a good read, for bringing this hitherto unknown memoir to the fore.

The story of Lt. Mann's remarkable escape from Singapore in WWII and indeed fragments of his subsequent life, make for an absorbing and recommended read.