Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

GUNSON John Michael Morphett MB BS

1909-1979

John Michael Morphett Gunson was born on 18th March 1909, in Adelaide. He was the son of John Bernard Gunson, a medical practitioner, and Annie Elizabeth, nee Morphett, the daughter of John Cummins Morphett and Mary Elizabeth, nee Sanders. The Morphett family were early settlers in South Australia, and there are many public infrastructures named after the family in SA. John’s two sisters married into the Britten-Jones family. Mary married Thomas Alan, and Ruth married Richard Edmund. He was educated at Christian Brothers College and studied medicine at the University of Adelaide graduating MB BS in 1933. He undertook a residency at the Adelaide Hospital in 1934 followed by honorary appointments from 1934 to 1938. He also had further appointments at the Adelaide Children's Hospital (ACH) during those years and was a clinical demonstrator in pathology.

Gunson joined the AAMC, on 3rd May 1941, as a captain and was placed on the Reserve of Officers. He commenced full-time duty on 8th May 1941, with the CMF, and was posted to ACH, Woodside, SA. Following a period of illness and attachment to 3 Trg Bn, he re-joined his unit on 11th February 1942.  He was transferred to 101 AGH on 6th April 1942 and was taken on the strength of 108 Convalescent Depot on 14th May 1942. Gunson again had a period of sick leave before being posted to ACH at Wayville. He was transferred to 101 AGH on 31st July 1942 and promoted to major on 19th November 1942.  Gunson enlisted in the 2/AIF on 29th July 1943, stating that was single and gave as his next of kin his mother who was living in Palmer Place, North Adelaide. Gunson was sent to the Northern Territory LoC on 17th August 1943. He was again hospitalised for dysentery, on 10th November 1943, and was transferred to Sydney on the 2/2 Hospital Ship, on 13 November 1944.  He was appointed as a physician to 118 AGH on 20th May 1945 and then relocated to 3 Australian Sub Base Area on 12th June 1945. He was sent to Wewak for service in PNG on 1st September 1945 and later on 31st October 1945 transferred to Rabaul.  He returned to Adelaide and was appointed as a physician at 105 AMH on 5th April 1946. He was discharged on 4th September 1946 and placed on the Reserve of Officers on 5th September.

Following the war, Gunson resumed his practice and lived in Palmer Place, North Adelaide.  He does not appear to have married. Gunson retired from medical practice on 22nd October 1964.  John Michael Morphett Gunson died on 13th October 1979 and is buried in the West Terrace Cemetery in Adelaide.

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