Photo of plaque M262BPhoto of co-located plaques M262, M262A and M262BPhoto of Sister Alma May BeardPhoto of the Vyner Brooke Tragedy memorial plaque commemorating fallen WA nurses
Rank
Sister Nursing Corps
Service number
WFX11175
Unit
2/13 Australian General Hospital Australian Army Medical Services
Cause of death
Died as Prisoner of War
Place of death
Bangka Island, Indonesia
Date of death
16 February 1942
Age
29
Plaque number
M262B
Co-located plaques
M262A - SR Louvima (Louvinia) Bates
M262 - SR Minnie Hodgson
Dedicated by
Sister on 16 February 2008
More information

Biography presented during plaque dedication:

Sister Alma Beard of 2/13 Australian General Hospital is the daughter of Edward and Katherine Beard of Toodyay. She was born at 'Pell Mell', the family farm, on 14 January 1913.

She attended the local primary school at Pell Mell in the locality of Culham near Toodyay, then boarded at Mercedes College in Perth for a year.

Alma returned home at the age of 17 before commencing her nursing training at Perth Hospital. She loved to ride horses and entered dressage events at the local show.

Alma was 28 when she enlisted in Perth on 19 June 1941.

Sister Alma May Beard, service number WFX11175 of 2/13 Australian General Hospital, was shot as a prisoner of war at Bangka Island on 16 February 1942. She was 29.

Back to search results Tips and disclaimers

Get directions