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Excerpt from Blood Sweat and Fears: Medical Practitioners and Medical Students of South Australian who Served in World War 1. Courtesy of the Authors

Henry Kenneth Fry was the fourth child of Henry Thomas Fry, a warehouseman, and his wife Margaret Hannah, nee Phillips. He was educated at Prince Alfred College and University of Adelaide where he excelled academically and at athletics, lacrosse and rowing. He graduated BSc (Hons) in physiology in 1905 and MB BS as Everard Scholar in 1908. His house surgeon year was at the Adelaide Hospital. He was Rhodes Scholar in 1909, and at Balliol, took another BSc and diplomas in Public Health and Anthropology. He returned to Australia and took up the post of Chief Medical Inspector of Aborigines in Darwin. 

Fry enlisted in the AIF as a captain in August 1914. He indicated 3 years previous experience as a private soldier in King Edward's Horse and as surgeon captain in 79 Infantry Bn. He was single at the time of enlistment and his brother, NS Fry of Henley Beach, was named as next of kin. He was 5ft 8ins" and weighed 144lbs. He sailed for the Middle East with 3 FdAmb in October 1914 on the Medic. He landed at Gallipoli, with his bearers at Ari Burnu, on 25th April 1915.  Surviving a storm of shots, he established his ADS in the vicinity of the Sphinx. He was later to establish ADS at Shrapnel and Victoria Gullies. As temporary major he was the Divisional Sanitary Officer from 3rd September 1915. He returned to Egypt in November with scurvy before returning to Gallipoli. Substantively promoted to major he was appointed DADMS for 2 Div. He served in this capacity throughout the battles of the Somme where he was decorated with the DSO for his achievements at Pozieres and Sausage Valley where he was constantly under shellfire superintending and arranging the evacuation of the wounded....throughout the campaign similar thoroughness of work has been his characteristic. He was promoted lieutenant colonel and given command of 13 FdAmb in October 1917. He married Dorothy Editha Deeley, during leave home, in the Church of the Epiphany, Crafers on 21st October 1918. He returned to France in December as honorary colonel, ADMS 5 Div. He had been Mentioned in Despatches 3 times. 

He returned to Australia and established a general practice in Eastwood; the practice had a laboratory, surgery and X-Ray facility. He was to develop three distinct strands to his remarkable career.  Firstly as a physician with an interest in therapeutics and psychiatry, secondly as an anthropologist and thirdly as a public health medical officer. He was initially honorary assistant physician at the Adelaide Hospital, later honorary physician; he lectured medical students in ‘materia medica’ and therapeutics (he wrote a small textbook on the subject).He promoted the use of the new antibiotic sulphonamides in the treatment of pneumonia and patients were admitted preferentially under his care.  He was awarded MD (Adel) and was a foundation fellow of the RACP. He was physician to the Parkside Mental Hospital. He was a member and later President (1939) of the Royal Society of South Australia, established with others, the Board for Anthropological Research, and participated in numerous medical, anthropological and ethnological research expeditions to central Australia. He was the Medical Officer of Health for the City of Adelaide for over 20 years. He promoted the concept of mass chest X-rays and formulated plans for implementation in Adelaide and later SA. He tried to enlist again in WW2 but his employer, the City of Adelaide, refused to release him.  Fry was a man of high ideals and filled several offices giving him opportunities of community service. He was a quiet, devoted and sincere worker and a sound and efficient administrator. Henry Kenneth Fry died on 22nd July 1959 and was survived by his wife, son and daughter.

Henry Kenneth Fry was born 25th May 1886 at North Adelaide, South Australia, the youngest child and son of 5 children born to his parents Henry and Margaret Fry.  His brother Norman was the eldest with 3 sisters in between them...Muriella, Emily and Constance.  He went by the name Kenneth and was educated at Prince Alfred College winning the John Robb Scholarship in 1901.  He won the Cotton Medal in 1902 which is given for an academic achievement in agricultural chemistry.  He commenced his medical studies at the University of Adelaide winning the Sir Thomas Elder Scholarship in 1903 and 1904.  He graduated with the degree BSc in 1905 with class honours in physiology.  He won the Dr Davies Thomas Scholarship in 1906 and 1907and in 1908 he was awarded the Everard Scholarship which is for students who apply for admission to a research degree at the University of Adelaide whose research is substantially connected with agricultural or horticultural sciences.  He graduated in 1908 with a MBBS being the only first class 5th year medical student.  He was a member of numerous University sporting teams including swimming, rowing and lacrosse being awarded the “Blue” Jersey which is given for excellence in a particular sport and/or competing in a State or National team.

In 1909, he was unanimously chosen by the selection committee from 6 candidates as the 1909 South Australian Rhodes Scholar.  He was declared by the Chancellor and the Dean of Faculty of Medicine to be one of the most brilliant graduates of the University.  Kenneth proceeded to Balliol College, Oxford UK, where in 1912 he obtained another BSc and Diplomas in Public Health and Anthropology.  While in the UK he represented Oxford University in lacrosse against Cambridge.  He also served for 3 years with King Edward’s Horse, a cavalry regiment of the British Army, and spent 5 months as surgeon with the 79th Infantry Brigade.

In 1913 Henry was appointed as Chief Medical Inspector of Aborigines and was based in Darwin.  He made expeditions to remote locations including Melville and Bathurst Islands.  He held this role for 9 months before returning briefly to private practice in Adelaide.   

At the outbreak of World War 1, Kenneth was granted a Commission in the Australian Army Medical Corps (AAMC) on 20th August 1914 with the rank of Captain.  He enlisted at Adelaide on 2nd September 1914 aged 28 and was assigned to the 3rd Field Ambulance.  He embarked from Adelaide on 20th October 1914 on HMAT Medic as part of the 1st Convoy, then sailed from Fremantle WA to Egypt on 2nd November 1914.  Upon arrival at Egypt Kenneth proceeded to Mena Camp where he remained until early March 1915 when he embarked from Alexandria on HMAT Malda.  A few days later the ship anchored in Mudros Bay off Lemnos Island.  The troops remained on board the ship in the bay for a month in preparation for the Gallipoli landings.  Kenneth with 2 other Officers, Captains Buchanan and McWhae, and 114 other ranks were transferred to HMT Ionian then on 19th April they were transferred to HMAT Suffolk.  With Kenneth as the Senior Officer of the Bearer Division, they were transferred to HMAT Devanha which was anchored off shore of the Gallipoli Peninsula.  At 10.30pm on 24th April Kenneth and the Bearer Division were transferred to the destroyer HMS Ribble from which they disembarked into lifeboats and were towed ashore at 4.30am, landing under heavy shrapnel and gun fire.  Several casualties occurred.

Kenneth and his Unit took shelter under the sand banks on the beach and it was some time before they were able to commence collecting the wounded and attend to their needs.  Later in the day they were able to move to a position below the Sphinx near Fisherman’s Hut where they remained for the rest of the day.  Kenneth was tasked with writing a special report on the work of the 3rd FA on the day of the landing and in that he noted that the casualties for their Unit for the first day were 2 killed, 18 wounded and 4 missing.  The following day Kenneth established a dressing station in Monash Gully and 2 days later he took command of the Bearer Section and was appointed Acting Adjutant when Captain McWhae, who had been commanding the Unit, was wounded.  He was also tasked with making recommendations for honours to those whose actions were outstanding on 25th and both reports were submitted to the Assistant Director of Medical Services (ADMS), Colonel Howse.  One of the men he mentioned in his recommendations report for special honour was Private John Simpson Kirkpatrick, commenting that “…he has shown initiative in using a donkey from the 26th April to carry slightly wounded cases and has kept up his work from early morning till night every day since”.  On the 19th May 1915 the enemy attacked in force with heavy machine gun fire and at 5am Kenneth took 6 squads  and proceeded to the Regimental Aid Post on Bridges Road to clear the wounded and it was during this operation that Simpson was killed by a bullet to the heart.  Kenneth wrote to Simpson’s sister in early September and said the following: “Your brother landed with us from the torpedo boat at daybreak on the 25th of April so taking part in the historic landing. He did excellent work during the day. He discovered a donkey in a deserted hut, took possession, and worked up and down a dangerous valley carrying wounded men to the beach on the donkey. This plan was a great success, so he continued day by day from morning till night, and became one of the best known men in the division…the work your brother did was so exceptionally good.”

In early August Kenneth took command of the Advanced Dressing Station in Victoria Gully where in one day they had 202 casualties pass through in just 12 hours.  Due to a shortage of stretcher bearers, those who remained had to work 12 hour shifts.  On 26th August he was Mentioned in Despatches by Sir Ian Hamilton, Commander -in-Chief of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force. 

In early September Kenneth was appointed Divisional Sanitary Officer, a role he held for 2 months before being admitted to the 1st Australian Casualty Clearing Station with scurvy and edema.  He was evacuated on HMHS Galeka to Alexandria and then admitted to 1st Australian General Hospital at Cairo, Egypt.  In early December he was attached to the 2nd Division Headquarters at Rest Gully at Gallipoli.  He was one of the first to leave Gallipoli when the evacuation began on 17th December and proceeded to the camp at Mudros on Lemnos Island.  In late December he was appointed temporary Major and appointed as Deputy Assistant Director of Medical Services (DADMS). 

On 6th January he embarked on HMT Minnewaska for Alexandria and proceeded to Tel-el-Kebir Camp.  In the role as DADMS he regularly visited the Battalions in their front line positions.  He was promoted to Major in early February 1916 then in early March proceeded with the advance party to Alexandria where he embarked for France on HMT Minneapolis on the 15th March 1916. 

In mid-July 1916 Kenneth was involved in the Battle of Pozieres where his actions earned him a Distinguished Service Order with the following recommendation…“From 27th July to 6th August 1916 at Pozieres and Sausage Valley this Officer was constantly under shell fire while superintending and arranging for the evacuation of wounded. He was unsparing of himself and unremitting in his attention to all the details of the Medical Service of the Division. The smooth working of the evacuation of sick after the capture of Pozieres Ridge was largely due to this Officer’s unremitting care. Throughout the campaign similar thoroughness of work has been his characteristic. On Gallipoli his behaviour was equally fearless and equally useful. He was Mentioned in Despatches while serving there.”

He followed this up with being Mentioned in Despatches by Sir Douglas Haig in November 1916 and then again in November 1917 with the following recommendation by Lieutenant Colonel Alfred Sutton for Kenneth’s actions in September 1917…“This Officer is the DADMS in the Division. For consistently good work throughout the period under review, this Officer has never spared himself in mental or physical exertion but on the contrary, has made extraordinary efforts to ensure the success of the medical work of the Division. His will-power and ability are great and are equalled by his power of organisation. All those qualities have been placed unreservedly at my disposal and his work alone at Bullecourt justifies me in making this recommendation.” 

Kenneth was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel on 31st October 1917 and transferred to command the 13th Field Ambulance.  He was recommended for a Bar to the DSO with the following recommendation…“During the operations near Villers-Bretonneux on 24th April 1918 and the succeeding days, the 13th Field Ambulance was attached to the 13th Australian Infantry Brigade and responsible for the evacuation of all wounded.  The Ambulance was stationed 7 miles away on the morning of the 24th April 1918 and had to get into position in time for the counter-attack that evening.  Colonel Fry was indefatigable in his efforts to make the best possible arrangements for the evacuation of the wounded, personally reconnoitring the forward area under heavy shell fire , and deciding on the best positions for Bearer and Loading Posts.  The medical arrangements made by him work admirably, and although heavy casualties were suffered by the Brigade, no hitch occurred in the evacuation.  Colonel Fry carried out his duties in a very gallant and efficient manner, and his services were of the greatest value to the Brigade.”  

Kenneth was not awarded this honour but 2 weeks later on the 18th May 1918 something of greater value happened when he became engaged to Dorothy Editha Deeley.  In early June he proceeded to AIF Headquarters in London and an entry in the 13th Field Ambulance diary tells how much he was esteemed by the Unit…“Lieutenant Colonel Fry proceeded to the railhead enroute to DMS Office, London.  His loss was keenly felt by all members of the Ambulance.”

He took leave and embarked from England for Australia on 17th June on HMT Matatua serving as the Medical Officer for the voyage.  He and Dorothy were married on 21st October 1918 at the Anglican Church of the Epiphany at Crafers in South Australia.  Just 9 days later he embarked from Sydney on SS Ventura and returned to the UK briefly before embarking for France having been appointed as ADMS for the 5th Division with the rank of temporary Colonel.  He joined them at Solre-le-Chateau in eastern France where an official photo was taken of the whole Division on 16th February 1919.  At the end of March 1919 the 2nd and 5th Divisions amalgamated and became “B” Divisional Group under his command.  By the end of April the DDMS office had closed and the staff had moved to London.  Kenneth took some leave to Italy before reporting to HQ at London in early May where he was granted 3 months leave to do post-graduate studies in orthopaedics and diseases of children at Oxford University.  In June he was appointed Honorary Colonel then embarked for Australia on 3rd September 1919 on HT Euripides serving as the ship’s Senior Medical Officer on the voyage.  His appointment was terminated on 26th December 1919 and he was placed on the Reserve of Officers for South Australia.

In 1920 Kenneth established a private practice in Eastwood SA in a house of his own design which incorporated a surgery, laboratory and one of the first X-ray units in the State.  He began lecturing in materia medica and therapeutics in the neurology department at the University.  He was also an honorary physician at the Royal Adelaide Hospital and an Official Visitor to Parkside Mental Hospital, a position he held for over 20 years.  In July 1920 Kenneth met HRH the Prince of Wales when he visited Keswick Hospital and in September that year he and Dorothy welcomed their son Jeremy followed by a daughter Gillian in 1925. 

In 1923 he joined the Royal Society of South Australia and later served as President in 1939.  In 1926 he was a founding member of the Board for Anthropological Research and participated in numerous medical, ethnological and anthropological research expeditions to Aboriginal lands in Central Australia between 1929 and 1937.  As the first Oxford-trained anthropologist to work in Australia, beginning in 1930, he published over twenty scientific papers on Aboriginal kinship, psychology and mythology.  In 1933 he became President of the Anthropological Society of South Australia.

Kenneth gained his MD from the University of Adelaide in 1934 and in 1937 he and Dorothy moved to Crafers.  The following year he was selected from 19 candidates and appointed Public Health Officer for the City of Adelaide, a position he occupied part-time.  In 1939 he was a founding fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians. 

With the outbreak of WW2 Kenneth was appointed from the Reserve of Officers AAMC to command the 9th Australian General Hospital (AGH) at Wayville Showground SA.  He enlisted at Wayville on 14th November 1940 aged 54.  His service number was S100007 and his rank Lieutenant Colonel.  He served in this role part time.  In February 1941 he volunteered for service in the AIF and was appointed as the visiting specialist to the Wayville Camp Hospital 1 day a week.  In late April 1942 he was appointed to command the 109th AGH at Alice Springs NT, a position he held for 3 months before relinquishing it in late July 1942 when he was discharged and placed on the Reserve of Officers AAMC.  He was placed on the retired list in June 1946. 

In 1945 Kenneth stood for Local Government Election for Stirling but was not elected.  In 1951, as President of the Anthropological Society, he joined the last of the board's major expeditions to Central Australia.  The following year he was appointed as Chairman of the Marriage Guidance Council.  He was also Chairman of the Stirling District Hospital Board. 

In March 1959 Kenneth gifted a 3.6 hectare piece of land at Crafers to the National Trust SA which was named the “H K Fry Reserve”.  On the 22nd July 1959 Kenneth passed away in Stirling SA aged 73.  He was cremated at Centennial Park Cemetery the following day. 

Kenneth bequeathed to the University of Adelaide the sum of $1,000 for the purpose of founding an annual prize in psychological medicine in the medical course. 

Kenneth is one of over 200 old scholars of Prince Alfred College to be honoured by inclusion in the “Princes Men Gallery”, located in the entrance to the secondary school, recognising their lifetime achievements.  He is also commemorated on the University of Adelaide Roll of Honour and the Henley Beach Roll of Honour. 

Henry Kenneth Fry was awarded for service in WW1…Distinguished Service Order, 1914-1915 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal and was Mentioned in Despatches 4 times.  For service in WW2 he was awarded the British War Medal.   

Respectfully submitted by Sue Smith 3rd June 2022.

SOURCES

https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/fry-henry-kenneth-10256

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Fry_(anthropologist)

 Appointed captain in the Australian Army Medical Corps, Australian Imperial Force, on 20 August 1914, Fry sailed for the Middle East with the 3rd Field Ambulance. He was at Gallipoli in 1915 before being sent to France in March 1916 as deputy assistant director of medical services, 2nd Division...

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