SMITH, Donald Ian Robertson
| Service Numbers: | Not yet discovered |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 1 March 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Captain |
| Last Unit: | Australian Army Medical Corps WW1 |
| Born: | North Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1 March 1892 |
| Home Town: | Not yet discovered |
| Schooling: | North Sydney Grammar School and Sydney University, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Medical Practioner |
| Died: | Heart attack, Chennell House, Perth, Western Australia, 3 January 1947, aged 54 years |
| Cemetery: |
Karrakatta Cemetery & Crematorium, Western Australia |
| Memorials: | Northbridge (Shore) Sydney Church of England Grammar School Memorial Cricket Ground Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 1 Mar 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Captain, Australian Army Medical Corps WW1 | |
|---|---|---|
| 24 Aug 1916: | Involvement Captain, Medical Officers, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '23' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Anchises embarkation_ship_number: A68 public_note: '' | |
| 24 Aug 1916: | Embarked Captain, Medical Officers, HMAT Anchises, Sydney | |
| 5 Nov 1916: | Transferred Captain, 2nd Australian General Hospital: AIF | |
| 12 Jan 1918: | Transferred Captain, 4th Field Ambulance | |
| 11 Mar 1918: | Transferred Captain, 4th Machine Gun Battalion | |
| 3 Jan 1919: | Transferred Captain, 3rd Australian General Hospital - WW1 | |
| 17 Mar 1919: | Transferred Captain, 2nd Australian Auxiliary Hospital - WW1 | |
| 8 May 1919: | Transferred Captain, 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital | |
| 8 Aug 1919: | Embarked AIF WW1, Captain, on HT Katoomba with his wife and child for return to Australia. | |
| 14 Nov 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Captain, Australian Army Medical Corps WW1 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Heather Ford
X-RAY PIONEER
Death of Dr Donald Smith
Dr Donald Smith, a pioneer in radiological work in this State, died at his residence at Chennell House, St George’s-terrace, Perth, at midnight on Friday as the result of a heart attack. He practiced up to the time of his death although he had been in indifferent health for several years. His remains will be cremated today. He is survived by his widow, two sons and a daughter.
The late Dr Smith was born in Sydney in 1892 and received his early education at the North Sydney Grammar School. In 1908 he attended the Medical School at the Sydney University, graduating at the age of 21. After a period as assistant superintendent at the Sydney Hospital he joined the A.A.M.C. in 1915 with the rank of captain. He served in France and later England, where he gained extensive radiological experience. He married Frances Margery Chennell, an Australian nursing sister, in London in 1918 and returned to Australia later that year, spending a short time in Sydney before taking up residence in Perth, where he established the first qualified radiological practice in this State. In 1930 he lost a leg largely as a result of his pioneer radiological work. He had been the president and treasurer of the British Medical Association in this State.
He was interested in musical comedy production and was chorus master and later principal comedian for the Concert Artists’ Society of W.A. On one occasion he was approached by Sir Benjamin Fuller with a view to his appearance in musical comedy in a professional capacity. This offer was declined.
The West Australian, Mon 6 Jan 1947