Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

SOUTHWOOD Albert Ray CMG ED MS FRACP MRCP

1894-1973

Albert Ray Southwood was born on the 15th June 1894 at Katoomba NSW. He was the son of John Albert Southwood and Elizabeth Jane, nee Walters; his parents were married in Sydney in 1889.  His father was the proprietor of the Kadina newspaper The Plain Dealer. John Albert Southwood had strong political views which were based on the philosophy of the Labour and Union movements surrounding the print trade. Southwood was educated at the Wallaroo Mines School where he was awarded a scholarship to Prince Alfred College. His family moved to St Peters, South Australia for the children’s education. He studied medicine at the University of Adelaide and graduated in 1916.

Southwood had attempted to enlist in the AIF at the outbreak of WW1 but was advised to complete his medical training. He eventually enlisted in the AIF on the 10th October 1916 as a captain in the AAMC. He was single, aged 22 years, his mother of Fourth Avenue, St Peters South Australia was his next of kin.  He had previous military experience as a lieutenant in the school cadets 1912-1916; he could not ride and spoke moderate German. He was 5ft 10ins tall, and weighed 11st in weight, of dark complexion, brown eyes and black hair. He was posted for general duty to the 1 HS  Karoola and embarked from Melbourne on the 9th December 1916. He completed two voyages with the ships in December 1916 and January 1918. His period of service was from September 1916 to March 1919. He disembarked from Karoola to the 4 MD on the 13th February 1919 with his appointment terminated on the 23rd April 1919 owing to “cessation of hostilities”. He was issued with the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. Southwood remained in the CMF after the war; he was CO of 8 Field Hygiene Section in 1932, and CO of 3 FdAmb from 1933 with promotion to lieutenant colonel. He was awarded the ED in 1937, and appointed CMG in 1947. During WW2 he was DDMS for 4 MD from 1940-43 with the temporary rank of colonel.

After WW1 Southwood completed his residency at Broken Hill, and then spent five years in general practice in Grote St, Adelaide from 1920-25. During this time he married Elva May Dillon at the Methodist Church Kent Town. He moved to South Terrace, Adelaide, before embarking on a career in public health. Later, in 1931, the family lived at 5 Wootoona Terrace, St Georges, next door to Malcolm Leslie Scott. Both doctors were members of the Council of the nearby Seymour College.  He became Chairman of the Central Board of Health in South Australia in 1931 to 1959 and also appointed Head of the State Health Department, and ultimately Director General of Health for South Australia. He held these positions during the time when TB, polio, mosquito and fly borne disease were public health issues. At the same time he was an honorary physician at Adelaide Hospital. Southwood was a devoted father, a prodigious reader with a large library and author of many articles on Public Health. Like his father he was very conscious of and compassionate for the common man. Albert Ray Southwood died in 2nd January 1973 survived by two sons and two daughters

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

CMG ED MS FRACP MRCP

Son of John Albert SOUTHWOOD and Elizabeth Jane nee WALTERS

After the war he completed his residence in Broken Hill 

Practised 1920-1925 at Grote St. Adelaide.

Married Elva May DILLON

Surived by two sons and two daughters

“Blood, Sweat and Fears”
ISBN: 978-0-64692-750-3
Medical Practitioners and Medical Students of South Australia
who served in WW1

RSL Information

4 September 1919 - Joined State Branch

13 October 1919 - Transferred to Broken Hill Sub Branch; address was c/- Broken Hill Hospital

16 October 1936 - Transferred to State Branch; address was Shell House, North Terrace, Adelaide.

1954 - Residing in England

April 1964 - Transferred to Blackwood Sub Branch; address was 1 Devon Drive, Blackwood

Other Adelaide residential addresses were 62 South Terrace, Adelaide and 20 Pioucott Terrace,Toorak Gardens

Badges 36740, Z6496 were lost

SOUTHWOOD Albert Ray CMG ED MS FRACP MRCP

1894-1973

Albert Ray Southwood was born on the 15th June 1894 at Katoomba, NSW. He was the son of John Albert Southwood and Elizabeth Jane, nee Walters; his parents had married in Sydney in 1889.  His father was the proprietor of the Kadina newspaper The Plain Dealer. John Albert Southwood had strong political views based on the philosophy of the Labour and Union movements surrounding the print trade. Southwood was educated at the Wallaroo Mines School where he was awarded a scholarship to Prince Alfred College. His family moved to St Peters, SA, for the children’s education. He studied medicine at the University of Adelaide, and graduated in 1916. Southwood enlisted in WW1 on the 10th October 1916 as a captain in the AAMC. He had previous military experience as a lieutenant in the school cadets from 1912 to1916. Southwood served throughout his WW1 service as a ship’s surgeon on the Karoola, from September 1916 to March 1919. His appointment was terminated on the 23rd April 1919 owing to the cessation of hostilities. Southwood remained in the CMF after the war; he was CO of 8 Field Hygiene Section in 1932, and CO of 3rd FdAmb from 1933 on promotion to lieutenant colonel. He was awarded the ED in 1937.  After WW1 Southwood completed his residency at Broken Hill and then spent five years in general practice in Grote St, Adelaide from 1920 to 1925. He was awarded Master of Surgery in 1925. During this time, he married Elva May Dillon at the Methodist Church Kent Town and moved to South Terrace, Adelaide, before embarking on a career in public health. Later, in 1931, the family lived at 5 Wootoona Terrace, St Georges.

Southwood re-enlisted during WW2 on 13th May 1940; he named his wife Elva May as his next of kin. He started his war service on two days a week, but by 10th June 1940 he was called up for full-time duty as DDMS of 4MD, and remained in this position, until 10th January 1943, at the rank of temporary colonel, until placed on the Reserve of Officers list. He was now living in Devon Drive Coromandel Valley, SA. He was appointed a Companion in the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George (CMG) in 1947.

Before the war, Southwood was Chairman of the Central Board of Health, from 1931 and continued in this role until 1959.  He was appointed Head of the State Health Department, and ultimately Director General of Health for South Australia. He held these positions when TB, polio, mosquito and fly-borne disease were public health issues. At the same time, he was an honorary physician at RAH. He was also a member of the Seymour College Council. Southwood was a devoted father, a prodigious reader with an extensive library and author of many articles on Public Health. One of Southwood’s prized possessions was a scalpel given to him by Sir Hugh Cairns when they were studying medicine at the University of Adelaide.  Like his father, he was very conscious of and compassionate for the working man. Albert Ray Southwood died in 2nd January 1973, survived by two sons and two daughters.

Source

Blood, Sweat and Fears III: Medical Practitioners South Australia, who Served in World War 2. 

Swain, Jelly, Verco, Summers. Open Books Howden, Adelaide 2019. 

Uploaded by Annette Summers AO RFD