Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

SEITH Wolfram Immanuel MB BS

1927- 2014

Wolfram Immanuel Seith was born on 31st March 1927 in Prospect, South Australia. He was the only child of Friedrich Wolfram Seith and Johanna, nee Helmbold.  His father was a dentist who had set up a practice in Rhineland, before migrating to Australia, in 1924, and starting a practice on North Terrace, Adelaide. Seith was educated at St Peter’s College and gained a Commonwealth scholarship to study medicine at the University of Adelaide. He graduated MB BS in 1949 and completed his residency and, early experiences at the RAH, the ACH, the RGH and Broken Hill hospitals.

Seith enlisted in the Army as a medical officer on 25th June 1950. He was appointed as a medical officer with Dr Robert Barnes to BCOF in Japan.  He was subsequently posted to Korea and served in the forward maintenance area, returning to Australia in 1952. He was issued with the Australian Active Service Medal 1945-1975 with Clasp KOREA, the Korea Medal, the Korea UN Medal with Clasp KOREA, the Australian Service Medal 1945-1975 with clasp JAPAN and the Australian Defence Medal.

Seith then took up a private practice in Kadina, South Australia with colleague Bob Barnes.  Barnes, who was an Adelaide doctor, who also served with the Australian Army in Korea. Seith married Valda Mae Dunchue, a nurse, in 1953 and they had five children. He returned to the RGH as a resident medical officer, after twenty five years as a rural general practitioner, in 1978.

He became the medical officer in charge of outpatients in 1980.  Seith retired after ten years service at the RGH, in 1990, and took up a part time position in the Department of Veteran Affairs in Adelaide. He remained in this role for a further ten years. Seith had a keen interest in painting and classical music, mainly opera. 

When he was young he wanted to be a naval architect, so he particularly liked painting ships from postcards and pictures that he had collected over the years, after his retirement.  He also enjoyed portraiture and painted his four grandchildren, to adorn the walls of his home.

Seith and Valda went to Korea, in 2010, as part of a group of Korean War veterans.  They had been invited by the Korean President Lee Myung-Bak, and organised by the UN Korean War Allies Association to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War.  Wolfram Immanuel Seith died peacefully on 7th November 2014.  He is survived by his wife, Valda, and their five children; Francesca, Madeleine, Kristy, Martin and Hilary.

Source

Blood, Sweat and Fears II: Medical Practitioners of South Australia on Active Service After World War 2 to Vietnam 1945-1975.

Summers, Swain, Jelly, Verco. Open Book Howden, Adelaide 2016

Uploaded by Annette Summers AO RFD