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WALLACE Frank Kenneth OBE ED MB BS FRSH

1909- 2002

Frank Kenneth Wallace was born in Adelaide, on 11th July 1909. He was the only son of Mr and Mrs HF Wallace of Adelaide. He was educated at Adelaide High School and studied medicine at the University of Adelaide graduating in 1934.  He completed his resident year at the Adelaide Hospital and took a position as a surgical registrar at the Perth Hospital, WA, in 1936. He then moved to Broome, as District Medical Officer in 1937. He married Myrtle Thelma Omond, from Albany, WA, in Broome on 15th January 1937.  She was the daughter of Thomas Omond and Elizabeth Annie Green. Wallace and his wife were to have two sons and a daughter.

Wallace joined the CMF, on 20th August 1934, at the rank of captain and served in 13 FdAmb, WA. He remained in the CMF until WW2, and according to his records, he was placed on the Reserve of Officers in 5MD until 1940.  He served in Lucknow Military Hospital, near Orange NSW, at some point, before enlisting in the 2/AIF on 27th May 1940. Wallace was posted as OC of A Coy 2/7th FdAmb, serving in North Africa, Greece and Crete, in 1941. Many of 2/7th FdAmb were captured by the Germans, during the evacuation from Greece.  Wallace was one of the lucky ones unlike his colleague, Frank Edward Gallash. Returning to Australia, he served in 105 AMH, HQ 11 Aust Div, and HQ 3 Aust Div at the rank of honorary colonel. Appointed the Order of the British Empire in 1942, he was recommended for the Efficiency Decoration, which at first was refused but appears to have been later awarded, in 1947.

Following the war, Wallace returned to WA and became the medical superintendent of the Repatriation General Hospital, Hollywood, WA, and was living in Claremont WA in 1947.  He moved to Victoria, in 1953, for a position of medical superintendent Repatriation General Hospital, Heidelberg, and was living at Langham Place, Hawthorn, Victoria. He became Deputy Chief Director of Medical Services Repatriation Department from 1954 to 1970. He was a member of the AMA. Frank Kenneth Wallace died on 24th March 2002. His wife predeceased him in May 1985. His three children survived him.

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