irene melville drummond (1905-1942) was a nurse in the australian regular army who was killed in the banka island massacre. she joined the australian regular army in 1940. she was called up for full-time duty with the 2nd/4th casualty clearing station in january 1941, and in february of that year she went to singapore to join the 2nd/9th field ambulance. she was promoted to army matron on august 5 and posted to the 2nd/13th australian general hospital in september 1941. in january 1942 the hospital she worked at was moved to st patrick's school, singapore, due to the japanese invasion of malaya. on 12 february 1942 the sarawak royal yacht left singapore just before the city fell to the imperial japanese army. the ship carried many injured service personnel and 65 nurses of the australian army nursing service from the 2/13th australian general hospital (including drummond), as well as civilian men, women and children. the ship was bombed by japanese aircraft and sank.