Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

LEITCH Oliver MB BS BSc

1875-1926             

Oliver Leitch was born on the 19th April 1875, fourth son of John Leitch of Adelaide and Elizabeth, nee Westwood. His parents married at the residence of David Fowler of Mitcham South Australia on the 23rd June 1859. He was a younger brother of Dr J W Leitch (1867-1903) an early doctor on the York Peninsula who had died aged 27 years. He was educated at Sturt Street School and Prince Alfred College. He studied science and medicine at the University of Adelaide gaining his BSc in 1895.  He then started a medical degree in the same year but after completing the first three years had to complete his degree at Melbourne University due to the closure of the Medical School in the ‘Adelaide Hospital Row’. He graduated in 1901 and was registered as a Medical Practitioner in South Australia that year. He moved to Port Pirie and married Millicent Myrtle Grey on the 10th October 1906, with daughter Millicent (1908) and son Oliver W (1911) born in Port Pirie. He became Medical Superintendent at the Port Pirie Hospital in 1911.

Leitch enlisted in the AIF on the 27th April 1916 at the age of 41 years. He had previous service in the AAMC reserve. He was 5ft 9ins, and weighed 12st, with his wife named as his next of kin. He was recommended as a captain for sea transport duty. He was allocated for duty with Henry Gilbert on the Transport Ship Geelong, however he joined Botanist at Port Adelaide on the 24th April 1916. He returned to Australia from Egypt on duty in June 1916 and after arriving into the 4MD it was recommended that his and Gilberts appointments be terminated on the 23rd July 1916. He was issued with the British War Medal.

Leitch returned to Port Pirie and joined a partnership with Leslie Gemmel Tassie. He was the Health Officer of Port Pirie when he reported 6 cases of typhoid, 2 cases of diphtheria and a case of tuberculosis in 1918.  His return was followed by the birth of two daughters, Joan (1922), who did not survive, and Elisabeth (1923). He went to England and Switzerland with daughter Millicent to study “Plumbism” and brain conditions in 1925. He was very concerned about the health issues of employees at the Port Pirie Lead Smelter works. On his return he presented a paper to the South Australian Government resulting in a change in the working conditions at the lead smelter at Port Pirie. Oliver Leitch, in 1926, decided to return to their new home at 29 Wood Street, Millswood, Adelaide and extend his career as a Thoracic Surgeon. The Town held a farewell function for him and his family on the 19th February 1926 at which he collapsed and later died at Sister Bray’s private hospital.  Both Drs Tassie and Yeatman attended him at the function. He was survived by his wife and children, a son and two daughters. His wife remarried in 1936 to Mr WB Carr. His son Dr O W Leitch also returned to Pt Pirie for a few years after WW2.

Source

Blood, Sweat and Fears: Medical Practitioners and Medical Students of South Australia, who Served in World War 1. 

Verco, Summers, Swain, Jelly. Open Books Howden, Adelaide 2014. 

Uploaded by Annette Summers AO RFD