Dorothy Janet Campbell, always known as ‘Puss’, was one of nearly 3600 women to serve in the Australian Army Nursing Service (AANS) in WW2. Her wartime service took her to England, Egypt, Palestine, Papua New Guinea, Queensland and back home to Adelaide. On her departure, Puss’s younger sister Betty prayed that God would keep her safe on her ‘great adventure’. Puss did indeed have a ‘great adventure’. It was recorded in her own daily diary and photographs, and in the official diaries of the hospitals in which she served. Her Great Adventure is a ground-breaking study of Australia’s army sisters in WW2. It shows Puss and her colleagues nursing in many and varied circumstances. It brings to light for the first time the sisters’ lives away from the wards, their travels, sightseeing, friendships and romances. Previous publications have focused on the small number of sisters who died or were taken captive. Her Great Adventure is a fresh, factual and engaging perspective on Australian army nursing in WW2. Dr Janet Scarfe is a professional historian and Puss Campbell’s niece. Her research and publications include Australian army nursing sisters in WW1 and WW2.
