Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Published Biography

Blood Sweat and Fears: Medical Practitioners and Medical Students of South Australian who Served in World War 1, C Verco, A Summers, T Swain & M Jelly. July 2014

Additional Biography

Geoffrey Howard Barham Black was born 14th September 1893 at Burnside, the son of Alfred Barham Black, a renowned Adelaide architect (1858 - 1933) and Jessie Howard Clark, a teacher (1868 - 1942). He had three sisters; famous artist Dorothea Foster "Dorrit" Black (1891 - 1951), Helen Foster Barham Black (1897 - 1997), Mildred Rosa Barham Black (1899 - 1975).

Secondary Education

Geoffrey was initially educated at Mrs. Hübbe's Private School at 28 Statenborough Street , Knightsbridge (now Leabrook). In 1905, he was then enrolled at St Peters College (SPSC 1905 - 1911). In 1908 at SPSC in Form Va, he won the Form Prize, Mathematics Prize and the Gymnasium Medal. His academic achievements in his Senior and Higher Years were outstanding resulting in him being awarded a bursary to study medicine at the University of Adelaide.
At SPSC Geoffrey showed some athletic ability and participated in the annual sports days. In 1910 won the 100 yards flat race (Handicap event).

In the 1911 Sports, he won the 440 Yards Obstacle Race and was 2nd in the 120 yards Hurdles (Handicap event). He also was awarded the 1911 Gymnasium Medal.

Adelaide University
Having completed all the prerequisite subjects (Senior & Higher Public Exams) at St Peter's College, Geoffrey enrolled in the medical faculty at Adelaide University in 1912.

Although Black and many other medical students attempted to enlist soon after the outbreak of WW1, they were encouraged to complete their medical degrees. However, with the urgent need for doctors at the front, the University obliged by concentrating the courses with lecturers and students forgoing vacations to complete examinations two months earlier.

He completed the course within the requisite five years. With the course being compressed during the War years, his 5th Year was completed mid -1916. From those who enrolled with Geoffrey in medicine in 1912 there would be two future Rhodes Scholars. Alan Morey 1914 (also from St Peter's College) and Hugh Cairns 1917 (from Adelaide High School). Both would serve.

Immediately after graduating MBBS, Geoffrey along with many of the other new graduates, enlisted. While waiting for his commission in the AIF for overseas service with the Expeditionary Forces he gained some experience as a resident medical officer at the Adelaide Hospital.

University Sport

At University, Geoffrey played cricket with the Adelaide University Cricket Club (AUCC) from 1912/13 until the end of the 1915/16 cricket season. A handy all-rounder, he played mainly B Grade but by the 1915/16 season was included in the A Grade team . With many players enlisting after War was declared in Europe, the 1914/15 and 1915/16 season (unofficial) saw many cricket team having difficulty fielding full teams. Some of the University players had already embarked for overseas service or were in camp undergoing training. In the B Grade match against North Adelaide in January 1915, Geoffrey opened both the batting and bowling. The team played four men short and was comfortably beaten.

In 1912, Geoffrey was awarded a Blue for Rifle and was a member of the Inter-Varsity Rifle team in 1913.

In 1914 and 1915, Geoffrey rowed for the Adelaide University Boat Club. The Club had been participating in rowing since the 1880s and became a founding member of the Adelaide University Sports Association in 1906.

World War I

Shortly after the 7th of July 1916 when the final fifth year MBBS examination results were published, he had enlisted and by the 8th of August had received his Commission as a Captain in the Australian Army Medical Corps. At the time of enlisting he was unmarried and was residing with his parents at 63 Stanley St, North Adelaide.

He embarked from Melbourne, on board HMAT A16 Port Melbourne on 23rd October 1916.

After disembarking in England on 28th December 1916 at Devonport, he proceeded to France on 17th January 1917 and was posted to the 1st Australian General Hospital - 1st Australian Infantry Battalion. After a bout of influenza he returned to duty and in late March was attached to the 1st Australian Field Ambulance, supporting the 4th Australian Infantry Battalion in the field.

On the 29th October 1917, while positioned near the front-line with the 1st Field Artillery Brigade at Passchendaele, Belgium, he was gassed. After being attended by the 3rd Australian Field Ambulance and admitted to the 3rd Australian General Hospital at Boulogne, France, he was then evacuated to England to the 3rd London General Hospital, arriving 13th November 1917.

By January 1917 he had returned to duty but soon after suffered "toxic jaundice" and was admitted the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Dartmouth. After recovering from this he returned to France with the 3rd Field Ambulance and 3rd General Hospital.
On 4th November 1918 Geoffrey received a posting to the AIF Headquarters in London and then was granted leave to undertake post graduate study as a resident medical officer at Queen's Hospital Birmingham. After completing a year there he returned to Australia and was discharged 2nd January 1920.

He was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.

Resumption of Medical Career

Geoffrey, on resuming his medical career, registered as a specialist with prior General Practice experience. After initially spending time at the Adelaide Children's Hospital, in early 1921, he then went to Snowtown following the opening of the town's new hospital. He was at Snowtown for two and a half years as their General Practitioner , but also took a wide interest in community activities. Early in 1923 Geoffrey acquired a new motor vehicle.

In June 1923, Geoffrey was farewelled by the people of Snowtown, with Dr Sydney Manton Verco replacing him as the town doctor.

In 1924, soon after Geoffrey's move from Snowtown, he and two friends embarked on a 2,500 mile motoring trip through South Australia, New South Wales and Victoria, quite an adventure in those days and apart from a few punctures the vehicle proved to be very reliable.

In July 1925, Geoffrey married qualified massage therapist /physiotherapist, Catherine Gilmore Reid. Her mother Kate Gilmore Reid was a pioneer in the development of formal university studies for physical therapy practitioners and their registration.

Geoffrey, on returning to Adelaide and following his marriage to Catherine, set up home at 19 Grange Road, New Hindmarsh, where he had also established a general practice surgery. During their time there, their two daughters were born. Elizabeth "Betty" Barham Black in 1926 and Nancy Barham Black in 1928). Catherine became involved with the Bowden Free Kindergarten and served on the committee.

Geoffrey would remain in his general practitioner role at Hindmarsh until 1930. In 1931he travelled to England where he undertook specialist training in ophthalmology at Moorfields , London and Bristol.

After spending the majority of 1930 and 1931 in England, on returning to Adelaide in early 1932, Geoffrey established a specialist ophthalmology practice at 206 North Terrace. The family moved from Hindmarsh to a home in Molesworth Street, North Adelaide.

As well as his private practice, Geoffrey held consultant's positions at the Adelaide Hospital, Children's Hospital and Queen's Home until 1953. Geoffrey later worked in partnership with fellow ophthalmologist Dr Brian Formby Moore. For many years he held a number of voluntary honorary positions, including at Minda Home, the Royal Society for the Blind, the Institute for the Blind, Deaf and Dumb and the House of Mercy (Gilberton Retreat for Women). Geoffrey and Catherine also supported many fund raising activities for these charitable institutions.

Geoffrey's father, Alfred Barham Black, was a surveyor, engineer and architect. His fine work was well represented around Adelaide. He was also very outspoken man on political matters, particularly the government's handling of the financial crisis of the early 1930s. He made regular contributions to debate in his "Letters to the Editor". Sadly in February 1933, he passed away.

Geoffrey's interest in cricket had continued on from his own playing days and was a regular attendee at Adelaide Oval and on occasions travelled interstate for the Ashes Test Matches.

In 1936 Geoffrey and Catherine purchased a new home at 25 Northgate Street, Unley Park. It would be the scene of many family and other social gatherings in future years. During the 1930s, the family had grown, with James Foster Barham "Barry" Black arriving in 1931 and twins Andrew and Robert Barham Black born in 1935.

World War II

Geoffrey had continued his military service after WW1 in the Inter-War Service Militia. The service record below shows his continuity of service as a reservist with the Australian Army Medical Corps , Deputy Assistant Director of Medical Services for the 4th Military District (South Australia - Southern Command) from 1938.

After the start of WW2, he enlisted in the Citizen Military Forces for home service, being promoted to the rank of Temporary Lieutenant Colonel. He was mobilized in October 1941 to serve again as commander of his old WW1 Unit, the 3rd Field Ambulance.

Geoffrey's command of the 3rd Field Ambulance was unfortunately terminated in 1942 after he was deemed unfit for overseas service, a result of his WW1 gassing. This caused a great deal of distress, which was exacerbated by receipt of a white feather in the mail, a shocking show of disrespect to an officer who had served and was exposed to mustard gas in WW1. To demonstrate he had not shirked his responsibility he wore his uniform at every opportunity and even while consulting.
The anguish on top of losing his command because of his health was further exacerbated when sadly his mother passed away in August 1942.

Geoffrey retained a military appointment when the day after he relinquished his command, he was appointed as a consultant ophthalmologist to the new 105th Australian General Hospital at Springbank which after the War became the Daw Park Repatriation General Hospital.

Geoffrey was co-author, in collaboration with Drs C.S. Swan, D.L. Tostevin, H.M. Mayo and B. F. Moore, of a paper in the Australian Journal of Medicine in 1943, reporting that Rubella suffered in early pregnancy resulted in congenital abnormalities. Dr Norman Gregg had initially reported similar finding two years earlier, after first noting an increase in congenital cataracts following the 1941 Rubella epidemic in Australia. Geoffrey, along with Drs. Swan and Tostevin, followed up some years later in 1947, when they published a further article in the Medical Journal of Australia. By now as a consultant ophthalmologist at several institutions, Geoffrey and his co-authors had now observed many more children who had been born with congenital disabilities from the dreadful effects of Rubella suffered in pregnancy. This had created a need to provide special facilities for these children. The extent of the problem was highlighted to emphasise the need for it to become a notifiable disease and recommending the isolation of these patients from women of child bearing age. Prior to a vaccine becoming available in 1969, some mother's exposed their young daughters to children with the virus (Rubella parties) to give them immunity for their important later years.

Daughter Elizabeth (Betty) married Brian George Sando in 1946 and was now living in Penola. With Nancy now studying Medicine at Adelaide University and the boys all at St Peter's College, Catherine was able to be involved in many community activities. Among them, was as President of the foundation committee of St Ann's College, North Adelaide. Dr Helen Mayo, the second woman to graduate in medicine at Adelaide University was the foundation chairman of the St Ann's College Council.

In 1948 Geoffrey's friend from Adelaide University days, Neurosurgeon and Nuffield Professor of Surgery, Oxford, Sir Hugh Cairns visited Adelaide. He had been appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in June 1946. He was the guest of the Barham Black's at Unley Park.

Geoffrey and Catherine welcomed many friends of their children to their Unley Park residence for social gatherings. At the end of the school year in 1949, Barry, now 18, had a group of his friends there for a pre-Christmas barbeque. His 11 year old twin brothers, Robert and Andrew joined in.

In May 1950, Barry was now at Adelaide University and in addition to studying for an engineering degree was heavily involved in athletics and rugby. The Barham Black's Unley Park address was often a venue for gatherings of his sporting associates.

In June 1950, Geoffrey and Catherine celebrated with their 25th wedding anniversary with extended family.

Geoffrey was well connected in South Australian cricket circles and when the 1950/51 English touring Test cricket team were given a civic reception at the Adelaide Town Hall, the Barham Blacks were among the invited guests.

During that Ashes Test series, Geoffrey and Catherine, along with the twin boys, took the opportunity watch the Sydney Test match on their three week eastern states trip.

Sadly in September 1951, Catherine's mother passes away.

In May 1952, Catherine attended an Adelaide University Football Club fundraising function for the up and coming intervarsity football carnival.

Geoffrey, Catherine and their daughter Betty were among those at Adelaide Oval to watch the English touring cricket team take on South Australia in October 1954.

Death

Geoffrey resided at 25 Northgate St, Unley Park until his sudden death on 13th January 1956 after suffering a stroke. He was aged 62. Along with his medical career, he also was a keen bridge player, enjoyed social tennis and watching cricket. At home, he also devoted his spare time to "superb inventive furniture making".

After his death, Catherine sent the following letter to the Central Army Records Branch. In it she put in a request for Geoffrey's WW2 Service Medals which he had not previously received or applied for. He request was on behalf of her twin sons who were now serving in the Cadets at St Peter's College.

Catherine Gilmore Barham Black passed away 28th March 1973 (Aged 68).

Family Legacy

Geoffrey's sister Dorothea was a renowned South Australian/Australian artist.
Dorothea Foster (Dorrit) Black was an Australian painter and printmaker of the Modernist school, known for being a pioneer of Modernism in Australia. Born: December 23, 1891, Died: September 13, 1951.

Children

Elizabeth (Betty) Barham Black (b 1926 - d 2006) attended Walford House School. She married Brian George Sandow in 1946.

Nancy Helen (Nan) Barham Black (b1928) attended Walford House School and Adelaide University. She graduated MB.BS. in 1950, finishing in top place in her final year and was awarded the Everard Scholarship. She married Dr Robert Paton from Western Australia in 1951. She moved to W.A. and was working in the field of cancer research.

James Foster Barham (Barry) Black (b1931) attended St Peter's College and Adelaide University where he studied Engineering, graduating in 1955 with a Bachelor of Engineering Degree. He was a fine track athlete and rugby player representing the University.

Andrew Barham Black (b1938) twin brother of Robert, attended St Peter's College and studied medicine at Adelaide University, graduating MB.BS. in 1964 after having completed a B.Med.Sc in 1963.

Royal Australian Air Force Medical Branch

Air Cadets, Andrew and Robert were provisionally appointed to a commission with the rank of Pilot Officer in 1959. Robert would have a long and distinguished association with the RAAF.

In addition to his medical career, Andrew developed an interest in ornithology after an injury curtailed his sporting career.

Robert Barham Black (b1938) twin brother of Andrew, attended St Peter's College and studied medicine at Adelaide University, graduating MBBS in 1968 and MS 1972. Robert has had a stellar medical career. His activities have encompassed Surgical – both Academic and Private practice, Military and Community endeavours.

Profile added with the permission of the author Rob O'Shannassy.

For the complete profile including photographs, newspaper articles, documents and sources prepared for the AUFC/AUCC WWI Memorial Project please see the document attached.