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LINN Leslie Wadmore MB BS MACD

1894-1974

Leslie Wadmore Linn was born, on 20th November 1894, in Kensington, South Australia. He was the son of Matthew Edward Linn, a farmer, and Mary, nee Wadmore, and had three siblings, a brother and two sisters. Linn was educated at Prince Alfred College and studied medicine at the University of Adelaide, graduating in 1918. During WW1 Linn enlisted, on 26th November 1915, as a medical student, but after 55 days was discharged to complete his degree. He re-enlisted, on 25th March 1918, as a fifth-year medical student in the year he graduated but was not called up and he was discharged again on 18th November 1918 because hostilities had ceased. Linn married Kathleen Gladys Saltmarsh, a returned Army nurse, on 27th March 1920 in the Baptist Church Parkside. She was the daughter of William Saltmarsh and Annie Eliza, nee Hill. Linn was a general practitioner at both Tailem Bend and Woodside, and later moved to Kingswood, a suburb of Adelaide. Linn was appointed as a Justice of the Peace in 1924. He travelled to England to study dermatology in 1934. Returning to Adelaide he took a position as honorary dermatologist at the Parkside Mental Hospital, on 21st March 1935 and appointed an honorary surgical clinical assistant at the RAH, in 1937.

Linn joined the AAMC, on 6th November 1940, as an honorary captain.  He continued in the CMF until he was transferred to the 2/AIF as major, on 31st July 1942. He went to 3 MD to investigate dermatological problems in the Army, which had become a significant problem especially in tropical areas. He variously worked at 105 AGH, 121 AGH and 52 Camp Hospital one day a week while studying and gained membership of the Australian College of Dermatology. Linn continued with the Army throughout WW2, and while there is no specific termination date, from his military records, he appeared to complete his service duty in October 1945.

Following the war, Linn was appointed as an honorary dermatologist at the RAH from 1945 to 1955. Linn returned overseas on two occasions in 1950 and 1957 to undertake further studies. In 1957 he was the official Australian delegate to the International Dermatological Congress in Stockholm. Leslie Wadmore Linn died, on 26th September 1974, in Hawthorn, South Australia. The Australian Journal of Dermatology observed in his obituary that, he was a loyal conscientious and thoughtful dermatologist and he had served the community through his profession, his church and the Rotary Club.  His wife Gladys Linn predeceased him, on 14th April 1968.

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