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

Raphael West (Ray) Cilento was born on 2nd December 1893 at Jamestown, South Australia, the second of five children of South Australian parents Raphael Ambrose Cilento, a stationmaster, and his wife Frances Ellen Elizabeth, nee West. His paternal grandfather was an Italian migrant who had a shipping business in Adelaide.  Cilento attended Jamestown Public School and became a pupil-teacher in 1908. He taught at Port Pirie in 1910 to 1911. He completed his secondary education at Adelaide High School and then Prince Alfred College.  He studied medicine at the University of Adelaide and graduated MB BS (1918) as Everard scholar and MD 1922.

Cilento joined the AIF in 1916 when still a medical student and was considered fit for home service.  He was described as 5ft 8½ins tall weighed 128lbs with hazel eyes, brown hair, and medium complexion. He was promoted to corporal on 21st November 1916 and had uneventful service attached to the RMO of Murray Bridge War Service Camp until 1918. As soon as he graduated with his medical degree he was granted the rank of captain on 25th November 1918, and one month later on 18th December 1918 embarked on the Melusia in Sydney for Rabaul, New Guinea. He became familiar with tropical medicine and reported on medical conditions in New Guinea.  He returned to Australia in September 1919 and his military appointment was terminated in South Australia on 18th October 1919.

Cilento married Dr Phyllis Dorothy McGlew on 18th March 1920. Later that year he obtained a post as a physician to the Sultanate of Perak, Federated Malay States, where he gained further expertise in tropical medicine. Cilento became a leading figure in the field of tropical medicine and was appointed director of the Australian Institute in Tropical Medicine in 1922.  He was seconded to Rabaul in 1924 as director of public health for the Mandated Territory of New Guinea. He became Director of Tropical Hygiene and Chief Quarantine Officer in Brisbane, Queensland in 1928.  He was appointed as the first State Director-General of Health and Medical services in Queensland and returned to Brisbane in September 1934. He was knighted for his service in 1935; he created a new public medical system, writing legislation for general medicine and for mental health. To assist this work, he studied law and was admitted to the Bar on 29 April 1939. Cilento came into conflict with the military over the awarding of his British War Medal, Victory medal and his returned soldiers badge in 1935.  He applied for them to wear at the investiture of his knighthood in Sydney. Although he enlisted in 1916 as a medical student, he was not awarded the medals as he had embarked for Rabaul after 11th November 1918. Cilento attempted to re-join the Army with the advent of WW2 but was rejected by the Commonwealth Security Services because of rumours about his associations with the Italian government and with organisations such as the Dante Alighieri Society. Despite this he demonstrated his commitment to public service where his expertise in preventative medicine resulted in his appointment, in May 1945, with the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration. He was appointed a major general in the British Army, on the 25th August 1945, by General Montgomery. He worked first in the Balkans on malaria control and then in Germany, in July he was the first civilian doctor to enter Belsen concentration camp. Cilento was an active historical researcher; he was president of the Royal Historical Society of Queensland (1933-34, 1943-45, and 1953-68) and of the National Trust of Queensland (1966-71). Sir Raphael West Cilento died on 15th April 1985, at Oxley, Brisbane aged 92. He was survived by his wife, three sons and three daughters.