Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Published Biography

From Blood Sweat and Fears: Medical Practitioners and Medical Students of South Australian who Served in World War 1. Verco, Summers, Swain and Jelly 2014 (Revised).

Additional Biography

Port Pirie - Early Years

Henry Gordon Prest, known as Gordon, was born on the 10th of January 1899 in Port Pirie, South Australia, to Henry, (born Feliskirk, Yorkshire, England in 1844) and Eleanor (née Clark, born Norlunga, South Australia in 1860). He had two older siblings, David Howard and Gladys Mary and then a younger brother Charles Percy. Sadly in 1903, when Gordon was only four years of age, his father passed away. He had been a highly respected businessman (Prest Brothers 1877) and noted benefactor to the Port Pirie community. Eleanor was left to raise her four children alone. The family remained in Port Pirie for several years after their loss.

Another near tragedy occurred just before Christmas in 1903, when young Gordon survived an altercation with a pony. Fortunately, the kick to the head did not cause any lasting injury. It certainly did not blunt his intellectual capacity as he would excel academically in future years. However, he was left with a perpetual frown which no doubt was responsible for his nickname "Crusty" Prest in later years!

Gordon’s early schooling was at “The Children’s College” where at the half-year breakup he received a commendation for coming in second position in Class III and for “general improvement”. In addition, he had participated in the Recitals.

By 1908 Gordon had followed in the footsteps of his older brother Howard to Port Pirie West School to complete his Primary School education. In that year he received an award for “Homework”.

Move to Adelaide

In 1909, the family was farewelled by the Port Pirie community when Eleanor moved the family to Adelaide for the benefit of her children’s education. She had been a stalwart of the Port Pirie Township for over twenty years and was one of the founders and a Deaconess of the local Baptist Church. Gordon’s father had ensured that his children would be well educated and had left funds in Trust for that purpose in his Will.

Kyre College

From 1910 Gordon attended Kyre College which was then located at 4 Thornber Street, Unley Park . Eleanor had conveniently taken up residence in nearby George Street. A decade later, Kyre college would move to Torrens Park and evolve to become Scotch College in 1919.

In 1914 Gordon completed his Junior Public Examinations passing seven subjects and receiving second highest honours in the State for Geometry. He also played both football and cricket and was a member of the 2nd XI Cricket and 2nd XVIII Football teams.

At the Kyre College Speech Day in 1910, Gordon gained mentions in the Academic Prize List (Form III) and for sport, gaining the prize for the 2nd XI Cricket team Bowling. His brother Charles Percy “Peter”, won a Form II Prize. Gordon’s active participation in sport continued throughout his years at Kyre College and in 1914 he was on the Committee organising the annual sports day.

Prince Alfred College

At the end of 1914, Gordon left Kyre and moved to Prince Alfred College (PAC) where from 1915 to 1917 he would complete his Secondary Education. In 1915 in 4th Form, he passed three Senior Public Examinations subjects -Arithmetic, Algebra and Geometry (credit). The following year in 5th Form (University Entrance Year) he passed six subjects - English Literature, German, Arithmetic & Algebra, Geometry, Physiology and Physics. He stayed on one further year at PAC in Upper Sixth Form and passed an additional subject - Latin. It can be surmised that this subject was a prerequisite to gaining entry to study Medicine at Adelaide University.

In addition to his solid academic results at Prince Alfred College, he was showing outstanding leadership qualities and was a Prefect in 1916 and Captain of School in 1917. He played Intercollegiate matches against Saint Peter’s College in the First XVIII football and First XIII cricket in all his three years at PAC and was captain of both sports in 1916 & 1917. In the Cricket “Intercols”, Gordon had six innings and scored 182 runs at an average of just over 30 and picked up some wickets as an occasional bowler. In cricket, PAC won in 1915 and 1916 but lost in 1917 with the match affected by rain. In football they won with big margins in all three years, with Gordon as a rover and centreman. He was among the goal-kickers each year and high in the best players.

Adelaide University Enrolment

Gordon enrolled at Adelaide University in the Arts & Science Faculty in January of 1918. However, his academic ambitions and sporting career would now be put on hold. On the 7th of May 1918, Gordon, like many other Adelaide University students before him, enlisted to serve King and Country in the Australian Infantry Force.

World War I

The hostilities in the northern hemisphere were never far removed from Gordon and his family’s daily life. Even though he was safe in the classrooms and the sporting fields at PAC, during school assemblies it was common that there would be an announcement telling of another fallen old scholar. Even closer to home, older brother David Howard, who was studying Commerce part-time at the University (1912 – 1915), had enlisted in October 1916.

Gordon’s Attestation Papers describe him 19 years and 11 months (sic), 5ft 6in, 139lbs, Fair complexion, Blue Eyes, Fair Hair and of Baptist Denomination. He was assigned to the B Company - Mitcham Army Camp with the rank of Private, for initial training. He already had served four years in the school cadets and more recently with the 78th Infantry Division Citizen Force. Normally the period for basic training was twelve weeks, however with significant prior experience, Gordon was embarking for duty overseas after less than two months in camp.

On the 23rd of July 1918 Gordon boarded the HMAT A74 Marathon in Melbourne bound for England.

Arriving at the Port of London on 27th of September, he was transferred to the 10th Battalion and into the Fovant Camp, Wiltshire, England and then on 6th of October moved to the Reserve Brigade Australian Artillery Training Camp at Heytesbury. Now with the rank of Gunner, he was shipped to France eleven days after the First Armistice on 11th of November and was posted to the 4th Division Artillery at Rouelles. It was important that the Allied Forces maintained strong positions in France in case the peace was broken. After two months of duty Gordon was transferred back to England and after a two-week furlough embarked for home from the Port of Devenport aboard the HMAT A68 Anchises on 28th of February 1919.

Gordon arrived back in Adelaide on 11th of April 1919 and was formally discharged on 27th of April. He had served for 356 days and overseas for 265 of them. He was issued with the British War Medal. His brother Howard who had served with the 11th Field Ambulance had returned home earlier in time for Christmas 1918. He had been invalided out after suffering numerous bouts of influenza, tonsillitis and dysentery while serving in France.

Post WW1 and Adelaide University

Gordon did not waste much time after returning from overseas and in 1919, he re-enrolled in the Science Faulty and that year passed Physics and Biology, two compulsory subjects to gain entrance into Medicine. From 1920 until 1925 he completed his medical degree with his MBBS conferred in December 1925. He was duly registered by the Medical Board in January 1926.

Gordon was absent for the December Commemoration Ceremony, as he was in Melbourne at the time, playing in the annual Intervarsity cricket match. As captain, he no doubt felt his responsibility to the team was more important than recognition of his personal academic achievement.

Adelaide University Sport

Football
As the men returned home from the fields of France, Belgium and other places of conflict, most sporting codes commenced some official competitions again. With his return to his academic pursuits on campus, Gordon also was soon on the football field for the University Team.

The annual Intervarsity Football contest against Melbourne resumed in late August 1919 at the end of a reasonably successful season for Gordon, having kicked 40 goals. The AUFC team was now made up of mix of hardened returned servicemen, now well into their twenties, and younger students, who by virtue of the age had escaped the perils of war.

Gordon would have a celebrated football career with the Adelaide University Football Club spanning from 1919 to 1923. He was awarded his Blue for football in 1919 and was a member of the three consecutive premiership sides of 1920, 1921 and 1922. He was captain from 1921 until 1923 and won the SA Amateur League Fairest and Most Brilliant trophy (The Naylor Medal) in 1922. Also, that year the team defeated Melbourne University for only the second time in 14 years of competition.

In 1923 under his captaincy again ,the team had another good season, but only finished runners-up.

Inexplicably the Adelaide University Football Club’s skipper and star player, became a “convert to Lacrosse” for the winter of 1924, however he still played football for the PAC Old Scholars in matches against the students and for the AIF Artillery team against the 43rd Battalion. Perhaps the pressures of his medical studies may have been the reason for him giving up his football.

Cricket
On the resumption of the SACA District competition in the 1919/20 season, Gordon would have been a welcome inclusion in the University cricket team. Like the football team, it was made up of a mix of those who had returned to the University to complete studies and new young students. He would be a great contributor for six and a half seasons as a consistent upper order batsman and useful change bowler. He took over the captaincy in the 1923/24 season from Lance Pellew and carried on that duty until his graduation in December 1925. When the pressures of his duties at the Adelaide Hospital affected his availability in the second half of the 1925/26 season, he handed over the captaincy to former Prince Alfred College team-mate, Douglas McKay. Gordon also was a member and captain of several successful Intervarsity teams and in December 1925, he led the Adelaide team to success in the triangular series against both Melbourne and Sydney. He was awarded a Blue for cricket in 1920 in addition to his Blue for football in 1919.

In the 1924/25 season, under Gordon’s leadership the AUCC team finished fourth at the end of the regular season. It then defeated Glenelg in the Semi-final and Kensington in the Grand-final. The Sturt Club, led by Victor Richardson, had been defeated by Kensington in their Semi-final, however as they had finished minor premiers, under the rules of the day, they had the right to play off against the students for the ultimate prize in a “Challenge Final”. Unfortunately for this important match, the University team would be without its best batsman, State player Lance Gun, due to injury. This match was then delayed by a week because of inclement weather and was finally played the following Saturday (April 11th) and then concluded from 4pm on the Monday. Sturt batted first and made 250 on the Saturday and University after a good start (1 for 95), the students lost two late wickets just before stumps. On the Monday afternoon the University batsman collapsed to be 70 runs short with Gordon stranded on 16 not out.

During Gordon’s time with the University Club, he was coached by the former AUCC player, Clive “Bogga” Davies, who had been a member of the Club’s first side in 1908/9. He also was a master at Prince Alfred College and had been Gordon’s 1st XI cricket coach.

Gordon had some great performances in his career with University, but none more memorable than in the 1920/21 season. In the match against West Torrens, he made his maiden A Grade century (129), but this innings was overshadowed by team-mate Gilbert Jose’s 251. However, they had figured in a massive partnership of 380 runs. This is still the record partnership for any wicket in SACA A Grade District Cricket. Sadly, Gilbert Jose, who also played for South Australia, died in Changi POW Camp during WWII.

Gordon was also involved in the Adelaide University Athletics Club and was a member of the Committee of the Adelaide University Sports Association from 1921 to 1925. He was also on the Council of the South Australian Amateur Athletics Association which members of the University Club had been instrumental in forming after the War. At an athletics meeting in 1919, he was reported as acting as “The Costume Steward”. Gordon also played in the University’s annual tennis tournament.

Medical Career and Family

After spending time at the Adelaide hospital in the first half of 1926, Gordon was keen to travel to England to further his medical expertise. However, before hand, there was the more important task of his marriage to Ethel Irene Hunwick, known as "Rene" who he had become engaged to in December of 1924.

The Wedding took place on the evening of September 9th, 1926 at the Kent Town Methodist Church.

Three weeks after the wedding the newlyweds were on their way to England where Gordon would undertake post-graduate study. He spent most of 1927 at London Hospital.

In England Gordon and Rene welcomed the arrival of daughter Elizabeth Maurine on the 11th of May 1927.

In early 1928 the Prest family were home again in South Australia and welcomed on arrival by Gordon’s mother and other family members.

By the middle of 1928, the family had moved to Jamestown in the mid-north of the state as Gordon had taken up a position in general practice there with Dr E.J. Swann.

1928 was a big year as it also saw the wedding of Gordon’s younger brother, Charles Percy “Peter” to Ellie West and the engagement of older brother Howard to Marjorie Bastian. The previous year his older sister Gladys Mary, had married Frank Cornish.

http://www.portpirierecorder.com.au/story/2776077/behind-the-prests-signs-photos/

An article published in the Port Pirie Recorder relating to Peter Prest’s family history can be accessed from the above link.

The following year Gordon and Rene’s second child, a son, Anthony Gordon was born on 18th of November 1929.

Gordon and Rene remained in Jamestown for several years and involved themselves in community life. Rene was reported as playing piano at the Jamestown Fair in November 1928 and by 1929, Gordon had found himself President of the local cricket club and had joined the bowling club. He also had played in tennis tournaments.

In May 1930, Gordon played in a past versus present players match of the Adelaide University Football Club.

Gordon’s brother Howard, married Marjorie Bastian on Saturday 6th of September 1930.

In August 1932, Gordon played in an AIF golf tournament at Kooyonga Golf Club.
In September 1932, he played cricket for the Prince Alfred Old Scholars against the present students. It may be assumed that this match was a preseason warm-up, as this was the year the Adelaide Turf Cricket Association was formed with PAOC being a founding club. Gordon was elected vice-captain of the team with Len Clarkson as captain. Both in their 30’s were very experienced cricketers with Len having played A Grade with Kensington and Gordon with University.

It can be assumed that Gordon and family were back living in Adelaide by 1932, however in 1933 Rene was involved in a car accident while returning to Adelaide after a visit back to Jamestown.

Living back in Adelaide in 1933, Gordon was practising at 288 Wakefield St, Adelaide with his surgery and waiting room attached to the family home. Later the family moved across the road to 283 Wakefield St and the hospital next-door extended its buildings westward.

Gordon had been associated with the St John’s Ambulance Brigade since 1929 and in 1933 Dr, and Mrs. Prest joined the Hospitaller’s Club which provided charitable support for the St John’s Ambulance Brigade services and The Order of St John.
Order of St. John and the St. John Ambulance Brigade – Gordon Prest’s Resume
• Maintained a career-long association with the Order of St. John for 53 years, from 1929
• An active Medical Officer for St. John Ambulance Brigade for 21 years
• Awarded Long Service medal and made District Officer
• Actively engaged in work of St. John Ambulance Association for 33 years
• Was Chairman of the Association for 15 years
• Served as a Member of St. John Council and was elected Vice President.
• Was invested as a Commander of St. John for Service to the Order (1965). (S.B.St.J. 1954, O.B.St.J. 1959)
• Representing St. John, served on the Council of the Red Cross Society, Member of Executive Committee and was Chairman of the Welfare Department
• Representing St. John, was a Co-Founder and Foundation Member and a Vice-President of the Asthma Association of South Australia (later Asthma Foundation).
• Representing St. John, was a member of the Council of the Royal Flying Doctor Service.

On the 7th of March 1935, Gordon and Rene’s third child, Jennifer Anne was born.

Summary of Gordon Prest’s Medical Career
• London Hospital 1926 – 1927, General Practitioner at Jamestown, Wakefield St Adelaide (for approximately 20 years) and Unley Rd Malvern
• Finally practised as a Medical Officer for the School Heath Service - forced to retire at age of 80!
• Served as an Honorary Anaesthetist at RAH for 25 years
• Was an Honorary Clinical Assistant to the Medical Section and Ophthalmic Department at the RAH (1930s)
• Was Medical Officer for the South Adelaide Football for a period of time

2nd World War Experience
• Served his country overseas in Palestine in WW2 and promoted to the rank of Major

Medical Association Service
• Life Member of the Australian Medical Association (previously BMA)
• Served on the council of the BMA and the Medical Defence Association
• Foundation Member of South Australian Society of Anaesthetists

Other Community Service
• President of Prisoners’ Aid Society (now OARS) for 7 years
• Boy Scouts Association council in the early to mid-1930s
• Committee of Management for Home for Incurables
• A member of Rotary

Henry Gordon Prest died in Adelaide on 17 October 1989. His wife Mrs Ethel Irene Prest died in 1997.

Family

Oldest daughter Elizabeth Maurine followed her father into the medical profession graduating from Adelaide University (MBBS 1951).

http://samhs.org.au/Virtual%20Museum/Notable-individuals/puddy/Puddy.htm

Son Anthony Gordon was a student at Prince Alfred College and left school to work on the land. He spent 50 years in the agricultural industry. Gordon was a Life Member of both the River Murray Football League and the Meningie Football Club.

Youngest Daughter Jennifer Anne also attended Adelaide University graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in 1957. She was a much-loved and respected schoolteacher for 26 years, primarily at Woodlands CEGGS in South Australia.

Profile added with the permission of the author Rob O'Shannassy.

For the complete profile including photographs, newspaper articles, documents and sources prepared for the AUFC/AUCC WWI Memorial Project (in the period 2015-2019) please see the document attached.