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

Carl Emil Dorsch was born in Adelaide, South Australia on 13th May 1897. His parents were Reverend Caspar Dorsch and his second wife Agnes, nee Heyne, of Clifton Street, Prospect. They had eight children and his father had five children from his previous marriage. Dorsch’s father later suffered health problems leaving his mother to be responsible for this large family. His mother, Agnes, was an academically brilliant woman with a Bachelor of Arts (with Honours). The children were assisted in their study as their mother enabled them to gain scholarships to support their education. Dorsch, like his brothers, was educated at Prince Alfred College and studied medicine at the University of Adelaide. The girls were educated at Tormore House at North Adelaide.

Dorsch enlisted in the AIF on 17th June 1918 when he was a second year medical student. He had served in the Senior Cadets for four years and had then transferred to the Citizen Military Force.  He was 5ft 8ins tall and weighed 170lbs, of fair complexion with blue eyes and fair hair. He was allocated to the AAMC Reinforcements at Mitcham Camp as a private. He embarked in Adelaide on SS Gaika on 6th August 1918 for the United Kingdom disembarking in London on 13th October 1918. He developed influenza and was admitted to hospital on 28th October 1918 and was discharged to the AAMC Training Depot on 5th November. He was posted to the 3 AAH at Dartford on 2nd December 1918. He was again in hospital from the 16th to 24th February 1919 and he was sent to London and was discharged in London on 11th September 1919. It is stated in his discharge documentation that he received the British War Medal but elsewhere it is indicated he was not entitled to any service medals.

Dorsch completed his medical studies at Edinburgh University after discharge. He was awarded a medical degree ad eundem gradum in Adelaide. He was practising in Loxton in 1931 and was practising in Broken Hill in 1937. He married Marjory Janet Clarke on 3rd October 1936. Carl Emil Dorsch died on 31st July 1938 in Loxton. Members of the Dorsch family between them won five Tennyson Medals for English Literature.