{"product_id":"ellen-savage-and-the-heroes-of-ahs-centaur-from-the-bestselling-author-of-sister-viv-and-mary-penfold-9780733344107","title":"Ellen Savage and the Heroes of AHS Centaur: from the bestselling author of SISTER VIV and MARY PENFOLD","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\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 \u003cem\u003eCentaur\u003c\/em\u003e - and the bravery of its heroes\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cp\u003eFew disasters have touched Australia as profoundly as the sinking of the hospital ship \u003cem\u003eCentaur\u003c\/em\u003e - one of the deadliest wartime attacks on the nation, killing 268 souls on a mission of mercy.\u003c\/p\u003e\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\u003cp\u003eJust before dawn on 14 May 1943, the \u003cem\u003eCentaur\u003c\/em\u003e was 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 \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\u003cp\u003eBut off the coast of Brisbane, a Japanese submarine commander fired a torpedo into the \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\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\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 \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\u003ch4\u003eDetails\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003cp\u003eISBN13: 9780733344107\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFormat: Paperback \/ softback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNumber of Pages: 352\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEdition: \u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePublication Date: 31 Mar 2026\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePublisher: ABC Books\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePublication City, Country: New South Wales, Australia\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDimensions (cm): 23.3(H)x15.4(L)x2.9(W)457\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWeight (gm): 457\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch4\u003eAuthor Biography\u003c\/h4\u003eGrantlee Kieza OAM is an award-winning journalist and Australia's No. 1 bestselling historical biographer with more than twenty highly acclaimed books to his name. Kieza held senior editorial positions at The Daily Telegraph, The Sunday Telegraph and The Courier-Mail for many years and was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for his writing. He is a Walkley Award finalist, an ABIA shortlisted author for Biography, an Indie Award and Age Book of the Year shortlisted author for Non-fiction. His nationally bestselling biographies include Mary Penfold, Mr and Mrs Gould, Sister Viv, Flinders, The Remarkable Mrs Reibey, Hudson Fysh, Lawson, Banks, Macquarie, Banjo, Mrs Kelly, Monash and Bert Hinkler.\u003ch4\u003eReviews\u003c\/h4\u003e","brand":"Grantlee Kieza","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48506089767129,"sku":"9780733344107","price":35.99,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0502\/9530\/8441\/files\/9780733344107.jpg?v=1775742625","url":"https:\/\/www.arielbooks.com.au\/products\/ellen-savage-and-the-heroes-of-ahs-centaur-from-the-bestselling-author-of-sister-viv-and-mary-penfold-9780733344107","provider":"Ariel","version":"1.0","type":"link"}