{"product_id":"ellen-savage-and-the-heroes-of-ahs-centaur-by-grantlee-kieza","title":"Ellen Savage and the Heroes of AHS Centaur by Grantlee Kieza","description":"\u003cp\u003ePaperback\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe extraordinary true story of courage under fire and survival during one of the deadliest wartime attacks on Australia - the sinking of the hospital ship, the\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eCentaur\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e- and the bravery of its heroes\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFew disasters have touched Australia as profoundly as the sinking of the hospital ship\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eCentaur\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e- one of the deadliest wartime attacks on the nation, killing 268 souls on a mission of mercy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYet the extraordinary heroism it inspired galvanised Australia in the face of the Japanese war offensive that had already seen submarine attacks on Sydney and Newcastle, and aerial bombing raids on Darwin, Townsville and Broome.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJust before dawn on 14 May 1943, the\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eCentaur\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ewas cruising north from Sydney, to bring home troops wounded fighting the Japanese in New Guinea. Under the rules of the Hague Convention, all of the\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eCentaur\u003c\/em\u003e's lights were shining brightly against its brilliant white hull, clearly displaying the bright red crosses painted on its sides.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBut off the coast of Brisbane, a Japanese submarine commander fired a torpedo into the\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eCentaur\u003c\/em\u003e's heart. Many of those on board were killed instantly, and the ship took just three minutes to sink to a watery grave 2000 metres below.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEllen Savage, a fearless nurse from country New South Wales, emerged from a whirlpool of fire and burning wreckage, her body bruised and broken, and the only woman to survive. But for more than 34 hours, she and other heroes fought off hungry sharks, and did all they could to save other badly injured survivors until rescuers arrived.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePrime Minister John Curtin called the attack 'barbarous', and avenging the attack became a rallying cry for the Australian forces. Ellen Savage was awarded the prestigious George Medal for her remarkable bravery, and 66 years later, some of those she saved would witness the discovery of the\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eCentaur\u003c\/em\u003e's wreckage on the ocean floor, bringing its story of hope and heroism full circle - one of the most inspiring in Australia's history.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Book \u0026 Paper - Williamstown","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47247231975573,"sku":null,"price":35.99,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0451\/1701\/4165\/files\/book_f3f57012-41f7-486a-85dd-d8bdd779cf37.jpg?v=1775879134","url":"https:\/\/bookandpaper.com.au\/products\/ellen-savage-and-the-heroes-of-ahs-centaur-by-grantlee-kieza","provider":"Book \u0026 Paper - Williamstown","version":"1.0","type":"link"}