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War Memorial
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GREGERSON Gerald Jenkin MRCS LRCP

1897 - 1960

Gerald Jenkin Gregerson was born, on 1st December 1897, in Hindmarsh, SA.  He was one of the three sons of Dr William Jens Gregerson and Ada Cecilia, nee Coles. His mother was the daughter of Sir Jenkin Coles, one-time Speaker of the House of Assembly in SA. Gregerson was educated by private tuition and at St Peter’s College. He studied law at the University of Adelaide but interrupted his study at university to enlist in WW1 on 26th April 1917 and served in France as a gunner with 13th Field Battery; returning to Australia in January 1919 and discharged in May 1919. He did not return to law but went on to study medicine at the University of Adelaide, in 1920, and completed his MRCS and LRCP, in London, in 1926. Gregerson returned to Adelaide and took up general practice with his father in Verco Buildings, North Terrace, Adelaide. He had two traffic incidents reported in the local papers, in 1930, and a vehicle accident with a tram stand in 1935.  Gregerson married Sheila Campbell, of Sydney, on April 10th 1939 at Christ Church Westminster, London. She was the daughter of Mr William Russell Campbell and Kathleen Thelma, nee Newton, of Wahroonga, NSW.  They met when they were both travelling on the liner Oronsay when she was going to England and Gregerson was travelling to Vienna for postgraduate study. They returned to Adelaide via the United States of America.

Gregerson enlisted in the in the AAMC on 21st October 1941 as an honorary captain. He was posted to 3rd FdAmb on 15th December 1941, and was immediately called up for full time duty. He named his wife Sheila as his next of kin and they were living in Martin Avenue, Fitzroy, SA, at the time. He embarked for Port Moresby, PNG, on 27th December 1941, and disembarked on 3rd January 1942 in Port Moresby. He returned to Australia disembarking in Townsville on 6th July 1942 and was posted as MO to Murray Barracks, SA. He was on sick leave from 15th August 1942 to 17th October. He was placed on the Reserve of Officers and returned to South Australia. He had several periods of illness including influenza and was posted to 105 AMH, Adelaide and 64 ACH at Springbank, SA.  He was detailed for duty as locum tenens for Dr Erichsen in North Adelaide, SA, and Dr Powell in Largs Bay, SA in December 1942 to January 1943. Gregerson was placed on the retired list 8th May 1943.

Following his war service, Gregerson returned to work in his father’s practice on North Terrace, Adelaide.  His father died, in November 1945, and Gregerson took over the practice.  Gerald Jenkin Gregerson died on 5th December 1960, in North Adelaide and is interred in Centennial Park.

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