Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

WILSON Laurence Algernon MB BS FRCS FRACS

1896 - 1989

Laurence Algernon Wilson was born, on 3rd September 1896, at Norwood, South Australia. He was the son of Algernon Theodore King Wilson and Lillian Charlotte, nee Laurence. He was the grandson of Charles Algernon Wilson whose extensive diary, in the South Australian State Library, documented his journey, from England to South Australia, in 1838. Wilson was educated at St Peter’s College and studied medicine at the University of Adelaide, graduating MB BS in 1918. Wilson enlisted in the AIF on 18th June 1918 when he was a 5th-year medical student. Before enlistment, he had served four years as a senior cadet. When Wilson completed his medical degree, he was given the rank of captain and served for 50 days in the AIF home service. Wilson spent a year as a house surgeon at the Adelaide Hospital, in 1919, and then travelled to England for postgraduate study. He worked at The Hospital for Sick Children, Great Ormond Street, and gained his FRCS in 1922. Wilson married Nance Mildred Lamphee on 30th August 1924, at the St Peter’s College Chapel. She was the daughter of Philip Lamphee and Clara, nee Dustan. Wilson and Nance had three children, two sons and one daughter. Nance was the sister of Alan Dunstone Lamphee, a medical practitioner who served in WW1 and WW1.  Wilson was elected a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons on 27th September 1932.

Wilson again enlisted in the Army at the beginning of WW2. After recruit training at Wayville and, in November 1939, he moved into Woodside Camp in South Australia as an honorary captain. He transferred to the 2/AIF in August 1942 and was promoted to the rank of major. He served in 129 AGH in Darwin. Darwin Hospital was called the Fortress Hospital, until the bombing of Darwin in February 1942. After this it was renamed 129 AGH and taken over by the RAN in March 1945. Wilson also served in and 101 AGH in Katherine, NT.  He relinquished his commission in September 1945.

After the war, Wilson was living in Mitcham, SA, and had rooms at Gawler Chambers, North Terrace, Adelaide. He continued as a paediatric surgeon at the ACH and a lecturer in surgical diseases of children at the University of Adelaide. Laurence Algernon Wilson died on 24th July 1989. His three children survived him; his wife Nance died the year before in October 1988.

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