Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

The youngest of three sons of Wesleyan minister William Charles Park and his wife Elizabeth (nee Neep), Roy Lindsay Park was born at Charlton, Victoria in 1892. His father later worked as a schools’ inspector with the family moving to various locations in Melbourne and central Victoria.

Academically gifted and like his older brother Charles, he was destined to pursue a career in medicine. Small in stature, he was also an extremely talented sportsman, being a prodigy in cricket and an outstanding Australian Rules footballer.

A right hand batsman, Park played for South Melbourne Cricket Club and gained selection for Victoria. He was chosen in Wawick Armstrong's 1914/15 Australian team to tour South Africa but the tour was cancelled due to the outbreak of World War 1.

Playing in the Victorian Football League, Roy Park was a goalkicking superstar for Melbourne University in an era where The Professors struggled to win a game. Despite this, Park topped the league goalkicking in 1913. He moved to Melbourne Football Club in 1915 after University folded.

Following his registration as a medical practitioner he married Alice Monica Tynan in early 1917. They were to have two children, a son and a daughter.

Dr Roy Lindsay Park enlisted in the Australian Army Medical Corps of the Australian Imperial Force on 12 July 1917. He was appointed to the rank of Captain and left Australia on 4 August 1917 aboard the HMAT Themistocles. Dr Park served with the 5th Field Ambulance in France and was mentioned in dispatches by Sir Douglas Haig in March 1919.

Captain Park embarked the ‘Beltana’ on 2 June 1919 at Devonport, England to return to Australia and established a private medical practice in Cecil Street, South Melbourne.

He returned to cricket the following summer and after several outstanding performances for Victoria was selected in the Australian team for the second test against England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground over new year 1921. Unfortunately, he was bowled first ball by the English fast bowler, Harry Howell also making his debut. Legend has it that his wife dropped her knitting as he faced his first ball, bent to pick it up and missed his entire Test career. He was never selected for Australia again. 

Midway through 1920 he returned to football, signing with Victorian Football Association side Footscray. He played two seasons with the club and won a premiership.

Maintaining his medical practice in South Melbourne and with a prominent sporting profile through continued involvement with the Victorian Cricket Association, he was highly regarded by the community. His wife Alice, who undertook considerable charity work, died suddenly at just 39 in 1939 after complications from an operation. His son, also Roy, graduated in medicine and joined his father in the Cecil Street practice in the early 1940s before enlisting in the 2nd AIF. His daughter Alice Mary married Ian Johnson, a future Australian Test Cricket captain in 1942.

'Little Doc', Roy Lindsay Park died in January 1947, he was only 54. A memorial plaque in his memory and to those from the South Melbourne area who paid the supreme sacrifice in World War II was dedicated at the South Melbourne Cricket Ground (now Lakside Stadium) in 1953.