The outbreak of the Second World War put an end to her missionary work. When
Singapore fell in 1942, Dryburgh tried to escape from the advancing Japanese forces by ship, but was captured with other missionaries. Within days of arriving at the camp, Dryburgh started arranging church services for her fellow inmates, as well as a
Glee Club, hymn singing, writing classes and poetry sessions. She also ran a short story club for the prisoners and produced a monthly camp magazine which included articles on cookery, a children's section and a
crossword puzzle. Her primary interest, though, was her musical work.{{cite web |url=http://fpcbonita.org/index.php/worship/sermons/look_to_the_cross The concerts continued throughout 1944 and into 1945. The chorus ceased to function, however, once over half of its members had died. Constant hunger and disease eventually took their toll on Dryburgh, who died on 21 April 1945, a few days after the women were transferred to a camp at Loebok Linggau. She had become ill on the three-day journey from
Bangka Island camp, and eventually succumbed to
dysentery. The remaining inmates buried Dryburgh among some
rubber trees at Belau camp on
Sumatra two days later. She was reburied in the Dutch War Grave Cemetery in
Java in 1951. ==Legacy==