SYMONS, Eric Lindsay
| Service Numbers: | Not yet discovered |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 21 May 1941, Keswick, SA |
| Last Rank: | Captain |
| Last Unit: | Sea Transport Staff |
| Born: | Port Augusta, South Australia, 16 June 1893 |
| Home Town: | Not yet discovered |
| Schooling: | St Peter's College and University of Adelaide, South Australia |
| Occupation: | Medical Practitioner |
| Died: | Adelaide, South Australia, 29 December 1971, aged 78 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: | Adelaide University of Adelaide WW1 Honour Roll, Hackney St Peter's College Honour Board, Port Augusta St Augustine's Church Memorial Honor Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 5 Jan 1918: | Involvement Captain, Sea Transport Staff, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '24' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Borda embarkation_ship_number: A30 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 5 Jan 1918: | Embarked Captain, Sea Transport Staff, HMAT Borda, Adelaide |
World War 2 Service
| 21 May 1941: | Enlisted Keswick, SA |
|---|
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Annette Summers
SYMONS Eric Lindsay MB BS
1893-1971
Eric (Brickie) Lindsay Symons was born on 16th June 1893 in Port Augusta the son of William Symons and Alice Anderson, nee Westwood the daughter of David Westwood. He was educated at St Peter’s College and he studied medicine at the University of Adelaide, graduating in July 1917. He was the cox of the eight for the University of Adelaide team which finished second in 1914, in what was to be the last Universities Rowing Championship until after the war.
Symons joined the AIF on 7th August 1917 within a month of his medical registration. He had previously served in the cadets. He was 5ft 3½ins tall, and weighed 124lbs. Following training at Mitcham Camp he embarked on the Borda in Adelaide on 5th January 1918 and disembarked in Plymouth on 4th March 1918. He was attached to the 5th Training Battalion. He was admitted to Fovant Military Hospital on 15th April 1918 and discharged on 20th April. He proceeded to France on the 31st May1918 via Folkstone and he was attached to 2 AGH. He was attached to the 22nd Corps Mounted Troops on 22nd June. He was posted to 13 LHR on 14th December 1918 and subsequently on 21st December to the 2 FdAmb. Following leave in England from 4th January to 18th January 1919 he was attached to the 2nd Division and marched out to England for return to Australia. He joined the embarkation group from Devonport on the Ulysses on 12th July 1919 disembarking in Perth on 20th August 1919. His appointment was terminated on the 24th September 1919. He was issued with the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
After the war Symons spent a year in Kapunda with Dr James Riddell, followed by a short period at Broken Hill Hospital and in 1921 he commenced practice in Yankalilla. He was married on 14th March 1922 at the St Peter’s College Chapel to Meta Gertrude Ker daughter of Archibald Gordon Ker. He replaced Dr Peter Gorrie in Port Augusta in 1923 as the sole practitioner undertaking both obstetrics and surgery and remained there for 18 years. At that time patients were referred from surrounding towns including Whyalla and Iron Knob because it was the only hospital in the region and it was a very busy practice. He was made a Serving Brother of St. John Ambulance in 1940. Eric Lindsay Symons died in Adelaide on 29th December 1971.
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
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