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RISCHBIETH Henry George VRD RAN MB BS FRACP DCH

1920- 1977

Henry George Rischbieth was born, in Adelaide, on the 18th January 1920. He was the second of three sons of Dr Harold Rischbieth, a medical practitioner and Eileen May Rischbieth MBE, née de la Poer Beresford.  His mother was awarded the MBE for her organisation of the Sailor’s Wives and Mother’s Union.  Rischbieth’s early education was at St Peter's College, and in later life he became the college’s doctor. He showed considerable academic prowess, became a prefect, played football and rowed while at college. He studied the shortened course of medicine, due to WW2, at the University of Adelaide, graduating in 1942, as top of the class in medicine and second in surgery.

Following the completion of his residency at the RAH, Rischbieth enlisted in the RAN as surgeon lieutenant, on 18th January 1943.  He was mobilised, on the 20th January 1944, as additional to Torrens and Cerberus. He named his mother, of 34 Church Terrace, Walkerville, as his next of kin. His first overseas posting, was to HMAS Tarangan, the naval base at Milne Bay. Subsequently, he served with distinction on HMAS Warramunga. The Warramunga was a destroyer, designed for a sea speed of 32 knots but could usually turn out 35 knots with ease.  The Australian Squadron, based in Milne Bay, including Warramunga, was part of Task Force 74.  Rischbieth’s older brother, Lieutenant John Rischbieth RANR, served on HMAS Hobart in the same area. The Squadron, under the Command on Commodore Collins, in Shropshire, was in Subic Bay, the Philippines, when Japan surrendered on the 15th August 1945.  A Task Group, including Shropshire, Hobart and Warramunga, proceeded to Japan to be present at the formal Japanese surrender. Rischbieth wrote to his mother on September 1st, 1945: I am now one of the very few Australians who has been ashore in Tokyo during the War, and the number who sailed in with the squadron and have now been ashore is, I think, is not more than a dozen or possibly, yes, I think 13. I was the eighth to step ashore. I must admit it took a bit of a wangling, but I must have learned it from Mum, I think, and it stood me in good stead.  The Commodore had transferred to Warramunga that morning, and Rischbieth talked his way ashore in the Commodore’s boat from their anchorage in Yokohama. Rischbieth returned to Australia and was granted ninety days refresher training, on 1st September 1946, and transferred to the RANVR, 2nd January 1947. Later, on 18th January 1949, was promoted to surgeon lieutenant commander.

Rischbieth had married Nancy Henderson, an AAMWS, during his leave, in late 1944. After the war, he returned to SA, as an RMO at the ACH, he was appointed as the medical superintendent of the hospital. Having obtained his MRACP, in 1950, he undertook further postgraduate studies at Great Ormond Street, London and gained his DCH. He subsequently entered private practice in Adelaide as a paediatrician with attachment to the Adelaide Children's Hospital, culminating in the position of senior visiting physician. He was very popular with the medical undergraduates, with his teaching rounds enlivened with many clinical examples, gathered from his extensive experience. Rischbieth was involved in many other activities and had been a sideman at Christ Church in North Adelaide and its representative on Synod. He was a staunch supporter of Legacy. He was a keen tennis player, and he took to bowls in later years with skill and enterprise. He loved fishing, bird watching and watching his beloved North Adelaide Football Club. Henry George Rischbieth died on 4th December 1977, survived by his wife, Nancy, and their four children; Margot, Judy, Sue and Geoff

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