Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

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

Donald Augustus Dowling was born on the 7th July 1895 at Farina, South Australia. He was the son of James Patrick Dowling of Manoora, SA. He was educated at Port Pirie and gained a bursary to Adelaide High School where he was a fine athlete in football, cricket and rowing. He began medicine at University of Adelaide in 1914 and rowed in the university eight. 

Dowling enlisted in the AIF, on 14th September 1914, at Morphettville, as a 19 year old medical student. He had 2 years experience in the 50th AAMC and was a private soldier. His father gave permission for him to join and was named his next of kin. He was described as 5ft 10ins, 160lbs, of fair complexion with blue eyes and fair hair. He had four vaccination marks on his left arm. Dowling was posted to B section of 4 FdAmb. His unit proceeded, on the 12th April 1915, to join the MEF for the landing at Gallipoli. Whilst there he was hospitalised twice first with a dental problem and then in July with gastroenteritis but returned to duty and served with them until the end of the Gallipoli Campaign. He was promoted Lance Corporal in 1916 and transferred to a brief course as a Cadet with the 6th Officers Bn at Balliol College, Oxford. He was commissioned in November 1916 as a 2nd lieutenant and proceeded to France with the 27th Infantry Bn and served with them throughout 1917 and 1918. He was wounded in September 1917 in Belgium and from Rouen transferred to the 3rd London General Hospital with a gunshot wound to the neck. After 2 months care in November he returned to France and later served as the Brigade Gas Officer with the 7th Inf. Bde. Dowling returned to Australia in September 1918 with his appointment terminated in the 4 MD on the 22nd January 1919. He was issued with the 1914-15 Star, the British War medal and the Victory Medal.

Dowling resumed his medical studies at the University of Adelaide in 1919 graduating in 1923. He also gained sports blues in lacrosse and rowing and held executive positions in University sporting clubs and the Adelaide Medical Student Society.  He then became a resident at the Adelaide Hospital.  He entered private practice and returned to London in 1927 for further study. He joined the Commonwealth Department of Health as a medical officer at Port Adelaide in 1928 followed with a Diploma of Public Health and Tropical Disease from the Sydney University in 1933. He then continued as a Medical Officer on quarantine duties across Australia until 1946 followed by three years as Chief Medical Officer at Australia House, London.  This led to a period of senior positions as the Australian Delegate to World Health Assemblies until 1951 when he returned to Australia. He was appointed as Commonwealth Medical Officer for Queensland until his retirement in 1960. Dowling’s interest in sport and public life was sustained in Brisbane; he was a delegate to the Australian Olympic Federation, and the manager of the Australian Swimming Team to South Africa in 1959. He served on several industry and war appeal tribunals, and was a President of the AMA, Queensland Branch. He was appointed OBE in 1952.  He was made a Fellow of the Australian Medical Association in 1978. Donald Augustus Dowling died in Brisbane aged 83 years on the 8th March 1979.