Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

BLACK Geoffrey Howard Barham  MB BS FRACS DOMS

Excerpt from Blood Sweat and Fears: Medical Practitioners and Medical Students of South Australian who Served in World War 1. Courtesy of the Authors

Geoffrey Howard Barham Black was born at Burnside on 14th September 1893 son of Alfred Barham Black and Jessie Howard, nee Clark.  He was educated at Mrs Hübbe’s Private School at Knightsbridge (1900-1904) and, in 1905, went to St Peter’s College where he won a University Bursary for Medicine at the University of Adelaide. He graduated MB BS with 2nd Class Honours in 1916. At the University he had been awarded a Rifles shooting Blue, rowed and played cricket. Black with Kyle Gault, Hugh Cairns and Albert Ray Southwood attempted to enlist soon after the outbreak of WW1 but were encouraged to complete their course.

He enlisted as a captain in the AAMC on 8th August 1916. He was single, 23 years old of average build, 175 cm tall and weighed 69 kg and living at 26 Stanley St, North Adelaide.  He disembarked in Devonport England on 28th December 1916 then immediately went to France. There he served with the 1AGH, 1Bn, 1FdAmb, 1FdArty in which he was gassed at Passchendaele on 28th Oct 1917. He was evacuated via the 3 FdAmb and then to 3rd London General Hospital at Wandsworth and returned to Duty on 29th January 1918. He was transferred to 3 AAH Dartford within weeks with “toxic jaundice”. After recovery he returned to France now with the 73 FdAmb (British), the Royal West Kents, and to 3 AGH.  He was posted to AIF HQ London on 4th Nov 1918 and then granted leave and undertook post graduate study as an RMO at Queens’ Hospital, Birmingham.  After a year‘s study he embarked for Australia aboard Nestor on 1st November 1919. His AIF appointment was terminated on 27th January 1920. He was issued with the British War and the Victory Medals.

Black continued his medical career on returning home to Adelaide as a specialist with prior General Practice experience. He began at the Adelaide Children’s Hospital in 1920 and then to a General Practice in Snowtown, Hindmarsh. Black married Catherine Gilmore Reid at the St Peter’s College Chapel on 16th February 1925. He travelled to England to undertake Ophthalmology training at Moorfields, London, and Bristol in 1930-31.  He returned to Adelaide and started a Specialist Ophthalmological Practice at 206 Nth Terrace, Adelaide from 1932. At the same time continued with honorary appointments at the Adelaide Hospital, the Adelaide Children’s Hospital and the Queen’s Home until 1953.  He was also a contributor to the connection of rubella and congenital ocular defects in the newborn. Black continued to serve in the Inter War Service Militia from 10th January 1927; promoted to Major 1st October 1934. He also served in WW2 as DADMS and CO 3 FdAmb and promoted lieutenant colonel on the Reserve of Officers from 2nd March 1942.  It is a family understanding that his command of the 3 FdAmb was terminated as he was deemed unfit to go overseas following his WW1 gassing. He was replaced by Lieutenant Colonel Stannus Gunning.  It was a bitter blow to Black, exacerbated by the subsequent receipt of a white feather in the mail. Black would then wear his uniform at every opportunity even when consulting to show that he had not shirked his responsibility. The family lived at 25 Northgate St, Unley Park. He played tennis until his death, was a good bridge player and a superb inventive furniture craftsman. Geoffrey Howard Barham Black died in Adelaide on 13th January 1956, survived by his wife; two daughters, Elizabeth and Nancy, sons James (Barry) and twins Andrew and Robert.