Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

THORNTON Gayfield Collins ED MB BS

1919-1980

Gayfield Collins Thornton was born, on 17th March 1919, at Parkside, South Australia. He was the son of Archie Alexander Thornton and Hilda Mary, nee Collins. He was educated at St Peter’s College and studied medicine at the University of Adelaide, graduating MB BS in 1943. He had joined the CMF in Adelaide in 1942, as a private soldier and was posted to the 6 LT FdAmb.

Thornton enlisted in the AAMC, on graduation, as a captain in the SA LoC area from 30th June 1944. He was called up for full-time duty from the Reserve of Officers on 17th March 1945. Transferred to the 2/AIF, he spent a month as a MO in a recruit company. He then was attached to 10 ACH for an induction course in June 1945 followed by an attachment to HQ 11 Div, in Queensland, in December 1945. Later he was posted to 118 AGH for a short time. He was posted to 2 FdAmb on 14th June 1946 and left for Rabaul, PNG, via RAAF Schofields, NSW, on 17th November 1946. He returned to 105 AMH, Adelaide, in December 1946. His appointment was terminated on 23rd January 1947, and he was placed on the Reserve of Officers. Thornton was transferred, from the Reserve of Officers to the Army Reserve, on 1st May 1948.  He remained in reserve service for many years. Thornton was promoted to lieutenant-colonel, on 1st November 1965, and posted as CO to 3 FdAmb.  He was again promoted to colonel on 1st July 1969, and posted as the CO of 3 AGH, now a reserve unit in SA.  He replaced as CO, Colonel Donald Douglas Beard AM RFD ED QHS, a renowned SA medical military officer, who served in Korea and Vietnam.

Following the war, Thornton was a registrar at the Repatriation General Hospital, (RGH), Daw Park, formerly 105 AMH. He was responsible for the emergencies in anaesthesia or surgery and according to reports virtually carried the surgical section of the hospital. He remained with the Repatriation Department for the rest of his life. He was permanently appointed to the RGH in 1954. Dr R McEwin wrote in a confidential letter supporting Thornton's' competency and dedication to the hospital, in an attempt to get the RACS to award his fellowship but it failed. However, some surgeons saw it as inappropriate that Thornton should hold a position which would normally, in other hospitals, be filled by a young trainee.  When there was a change in leadership, and Dr Thomas Dearlove replaced Dr R McEwin as Director of Repatriation Medical Services, in 1971, Thornton was replaced as registrar. According to Peter Last’s book, The Repat, this caused a detrimental change in Thornton’s personality, although he maintained his dedication to his patients. He contracted cancer of the nose and throat, and his end was tragic. He married Kay Peters, a theatre sister at the RGH, almost at the end of his life. Gayfield Collins Thornton died on 25th June 1980 and interred in the North Road Cemetery. He included a number of staff members as beneficiaries in his will. His wife Kay 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