KAYE, Geoffrey Alfred
| Service Number: | VX357 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 23 November 1939 |
| Last Rank: | Major |
| Last Unit: | 2nd/2nd Australian General Hospital |
| Born: | Melbourne, Victoria, Australia , 9 April 1903 |
| Home Town: | Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Peterborough Lodge School Hampstead, Gresham’s School, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation: | Anaesthetist, Researcher, Author, Teacher, Engineer, Inventor, Metalworker |
| Died: | East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia , 28 October 1986, aged 83 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Privately Cremated |
| Memorials: |
World War 2 Service
| 23 Nov 1939: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Captain, VX357, Australian Army Medical Corps (WW2) | |
|---|---|---|
| 29 Nov 1943: | Discharged Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Major, VX357, 2nd/2nd Australian General Hospital |
Help us honour Geoffrey Alfred Kaye's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Scarlet Thomas
Geoffrey Kaye (1903–1986) was a pioneering Australian anaesthetist, inventor, and educator whose contributions shaped modern anaesthesia. Born in St Kilda, Melbourne, he studied medicine at the University of Melbourne, earning his MBBS in 1926 and MD in 1929. While working at the Alfred Hospital, he developed a deep interest in anaesthetics, leading him to innovate in anaesthetic equipment design and medical education.
Kaye was instrumental in advancing Australian anaesthesia, editing Practical Anaesthesia (1932), the country’s first textbook on the subject. His advocacy led to the formation of the Australian Society of Anaesthetists in 1934, where he served as its first secretary. He also pioneered anaesthetic training at the University of Melbourne.
During World War II, Captain Geoffrey Kaye served in the Australian Army Medical Corps, designing robust anaesthetic equipment for military use and training personnel in war zones. Recognising the challenges of providing anaesthesia in harsh environments, he emphasised the importance of in-field medical workshops.
His post-war efforts further enriched the field, culminating in the establishment of the Geoffrey Kaye Museum of Anaesthetic History, preserving the evolution of anaesthesia for future generations. Renowned for his meticulous research, international collaborations, and engineering ingenuity, Kaye was awarded the Orton Medal and multiple honorary fellowships. His legacy endures through his writings, innovations, and the ongoing influence of his museum, a testament to his visionary contributions to anaesthesia.
Information for this biography was gathered from the following sources:
Westhorpe, R. N. (2007). Geoffrey Kaye—a man of many parts. Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, 35(Supp 1), 3-10. (files.ehive.com)
Obituary: Geoffrey Kaye, M.D.(Melb.), M.B.B.S., F.F.A.R.A.C.S.(Hon.), F.F.A.R.C.S., D.A.(R.C.P.&S.) 1903-1986.(1987). Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, 15, 107-109. (journals.sagepub.com)
The Geoffrey Kaye Museum of Anaesthetic History Website. (www.geoffreykayemuseum.org.au)
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