Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

LEITCH Oliver Westwood MS FRACS

1911- 1998

Oliver Westwood Leitch was born in Port Pirie, SA, on 28th September 1911. He was the only son of Oliver Leitch, a medical practitioner, and his wife Millicent Myrtle, nee Grey. His father, who had a general practice in Port Pirie, SA, died at his farewell dinner before returning to Adelaide, in 1926. Leitch was educated at Scotch College, SA, and studied medicine at the University of Adelaide, graduating in 1935. He played cricket and football at school and university; in addition, he played golf, tennis and participated in school and university of athletics. He undertook eighteen months as a resident at the RAH and ACH, followed by twelve months as a senior house surgeon from 1936 to 1937.  Leitch married Phyllis Elizabeth Lawton, daughter of Mr and Mrs E C Lawton, of Wirra Wirra, Mitcham, SA, on 29th January 1938, at St Michael’s Church, Mitcham.  After the marriage, they travelled to England where Leitch undertook surgical training at the Winchester Hospital, in 1939, and obtained his surgical primary examination. He then worked for the Emergency Medical Service in Preston, UK, in 1940.  Mr EG Slesinger of Guy’s Hospital, London, in a reference, for Leitch, dated 4th July 1940, complimented him on the many hundreds of patients from the Dunkirk evacuation he had successfully treated surgically. He was described as ‘a sound skilful and reliable surgeon’ and ‘a very pleasant colleague to work with.’  They returned to Adelaide and Leitch was radiotherapy registrar at the RAH later in 1940. The Leitch’s were living at 37 Partridge Street, Glenelg, SA when he joined the RAAF.

Leitch was granted a commission in the RAAF, Medical Branch, on probation, as a flight lieutenant, on 7th October 1940, and confirmed on 21st August 1941. He was promoted to temporary squadron leader from 1st October 1942 and temporary wing commander from 1st August 1943. Initially, he was posted to 1 RAAF Hospital in Laverton, Victoria, on 9th December 1940, then to 1 Recruit Centre in Melbourne from 28th December 1940 and 5 Recruit Centre, Adelaide from 23rd January 1941, to 4STT Adelaide. He returned to 1 RAAF Hospital, Laverton, Victoria, on 23rd February 1942 and subsequently, posted to 1 Medical Registration Station, Daly Waters, NT, on 25th March 1942 then to Birdum, NT from 12th October 1942 and 4STT, Adelaide, from 15th October 1942. He was posted to RAAF Station Tocumwal, NSW, from 19th November 1942, then to 5 RAAF Hospital, Tocumwal, NSW, from 15th July 1943, where he was briefly the commanding officer and described as an outstanding medical officer. Leitch was posted to 6 Medical Registration Station, Merauke, Dutch East Indies (Indonesia), from 24th September 1943 and back to 4 Personnel Depot, Adelaide from 29th June 1944, prior to taking up the post of commanding officer at 1 RAAF Hospital, Wagga Wagga, NSW, on 10th July 1944. Where although, he was considered rather blunt in his approach to more senior staff, his staff much admired him. He remained at 1 RAAF Hospital until posted to 4 Personnel Depot, Adelaide, on 27th September 1945 before his discharge to the Reserve of Officers, at his request, on 27th November 1945.

Leitch took up an appointment as surgical registrar at the RAH. He obtained the MS (Adelaide) and FRACS in 1947. He was an assistant superintendent (surgery) from 1950 to 1969, honorary consultant surgeon, in 1969, and consultant surgeon at the RGH, Daws Road, Adelaide, from 1969 to 1973, when he retired to his property at Coonalpyn, SA. Throughout this time, he was a consultant surgeon to the RAAF from 1952 until his transfer from the RAAF reserve to the RAAF retired list, in 1970. His private surgical practice was at Elizabeth House, North Terrace, Adelaide, SA. Oliver Westwood Leitch died on 9th October 1998.  His wife and children survived him. His sons, Ian and Robert, followed him in careers in surgery. His son Simon Leitch was an Agricultural Scientist until his early death, and daughters Carolyn and Elizabeth were nurses at the RAH. 

Source

Blood, Sweat and Fears III: Medical Practitioners South Australia, who Served in World War 2. 

Swain, Jelly, Verco, Summers. Open Books Howden, Adelaide 2019. 

Uploaded by Annette Summers AO RFD