Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

WILHELM Donald Lancelot MD PhD FRACP

1919-1977

Donald Lancelot Wilhelm was born on 20th August 1919, at Woodside, SA. He was the son of Berthold Benjamin Wilhelm and Clara Melvina, nee Pfeiffer. He was educated at Birdwood High School and studied medicine at the University of Adelaide, graduating in 1942. While at university, he played district cricket and had interests in many activities including athletics in which he won the mile and was an excellent bridge player but preferred poker. He completed his house surgeon year at the RAH.

Wilhelm joined the CMF while he was a medical student on 22nd October 1940. He enlisted as a captain in the AAMC on 19th April 1943, and named his father, who was living at Mount Torrens, as his next of kin. Wilhelm was called up for full-time duty on 1st February 1944, and was marched into the reinforcement unit.  He was transferred to AAMC Trg Depot in the Victorian LoC area on 3rd February 1944. Wilhelm was sent to LHQ AAMC School at Ivanhoe, VIC, on 14th February 1944.  Back in South Australia, on general duties, Wilhelm married Eileen Vimy Klopper on 6th April 1944, in St Augustine’s Church, Unley.  She was the daughter of Roy Percival Klopper and Jessie, nee Sullivan. Following his marriage, he was taken on the strength of 2/13th FdAmb, in Darwin. Wilhelm was sent to the Queensland LoC area, on 30th May 1944. Wilhelm embarked on the Sea Barb, for Borneo, disembarking in Morotai on 21st April 1945.  He left for British North Borneo on 31st May 1945 and transferred to 2/6 AGH on 5th November. He was detached for a brief period to 2/3rd FdAmb but posted to 2/12th FdAmb on 16th December 1945. Wilhelm returned to Australia on the Eastern Prince from Labuan, Malaya, to the SA LoC area, on 14th January 1946 and allotted for duty with 121 AGH. He was later admitted to hospital in that unit on 27th February and 105 AMH on 13th August 1946 suffering from tuberculosis. His appointment was terminated on 11th October 1946.

After the war, Wilhelm pursued a career in pathology and was a demonstrator in pathology at the University of Adelaide, from 1947 to 1948, and a lecturer in 1949. He took a post as a pathologist at the RGH in Daw Park from 1950 to 1951, completing a Doctorate of Medicine, in 1951.  Wilhelm travelled to England and was a Research Assistant in University College Hospital, London from 1951 to 1952, and worked in the Lister Institute of Preventative Medicine at the same time, now completing a Doctorate of Philosophy. Returning to Australia, he was appointed as Foundation Professor of Pathology, at the University of New South Wales. He had a number of appointments at several hospitals in New South Wales. He was considered an excellent teacher and supervisor of postgraduate students. He had major interests in inflammation and wound healing and later in mast cells. He was on many Committees including the National Health and Medical Research Council, the New South Wales Cancer Council and the National Heart Foundation amongst others. Because of his interest in inflammation, he had a particular interest in the Asthma Foundation. He published some 56 scientific papers and wrote seven chapters in books. He enjoyed family life and welcomed friends to his home. In the 1970s following a cholecystectomy his tuberculosis reactivated. He died suddenly on 24th July 1977 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. He was cremated, and his wife and son and daughter 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