Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

RIEGER Sir Clarence Oscar Ferrero CBE LLD MB BS FRCS FRACS

1897-1978

Clarence Oscar Ferrero Rieger was born, on 23rd November 1897, in North Adelaide. He was the son of Oscar Philip Paul Rieger and Sarina, nee Ferrero. Educated at Rose Park Primary School, Norwood High School and Adelaide High School, he studied medicine at the University of Adelaide, graduating in 1919. He was awarded the Gosse medal for ophthalmology. Rieger enlisted, in WW1 as a medical student, just before he finished his degree, on 19th June 1918. However, due to the end of the war, he was discharged in November 1918. After his residency at the Adelaide Hospital, he moved to the Broken Hill and District Hospital as a junior RMO. Then as senior house surgeon and acting superintendent.  Rieger married Bessie Eileen Main, on 23 February 1923, in Broken Hill. They had three children. She was the daughter of Charles Ernest Main and Christina Galbraith, nee Davie. He took up a private practice in Zeehan, Tasmania for three years before returning to South Australia, in 1926, where he had a practice in Port Lincoln.  He moved to Port Elliston and remained in private practice there from 1927 to 1931. Rieger travelled to the United Kingdom for postgraduate surgical studies obtaining his FRCS in 1932.  Returning to Adelaide, in 1934, he joined a group practice at Torrensville, and at the same time had a position as assistant surgeon at the ACH, and then acting surgeon, from 1940. 

Rieger joined the AAMC, in January 1941.  He commenced full-time duty on 27th July 1942, and was posted to 10 CCS at the rank of captain. He embarked, with his unit, now 110 CCS, in August 1942, from Brisbane to Milne Bay, PNG. He was promoted to major on 1st September 1942. He remained with 110 CCS for most of his time in the Milne Bay area after the Japanese landed at Buna, in July 1942. Rieger led the surgical teams soon after he arrived in Milne Bay and coped with operating under challenging conditions.  While he was still in PNG, he was also detached to 121 AGH as a surgeon. Rieger returned to Australia, on 28th May 1944, and was attached to 105 AMH, Adelaide for a short time and then re-joined his unit, 110 CCS.  However, he was detached to 2/8 AGH, on 23rd March 1945, until he embarked again PNG, on 19th April 1945, this time for Lae and Jacquinot Bay.  He was posted back to 121 AGH and left PNG on 23rd October 1945, arriving in Brisbane on 27th October 1945. After spending two months at 2/8 AGH, he returned to Adelaide and was posted as a surgeon to 105 AMH, in January 1946. He appointment was terminated on 29th March 1946.

Rieger returned to his private practice and the ACH, as a surgeon.  He became a consulting surgeon to the ACH in 1957 and was very involved with the State and Federal branches of the AMA and BMA. He was president of the BMA, SA Branch, from 1949 to 1951 and president of the Federal council of the BMA from 1968 to 1969. For his contribution to the AMA, he received the Gold Medal in 1968. He was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1965 and Knighted in 1969. He undertook a Doctorate of Law at Aberdeen University, Scotland graduating in 1969, when he was 74 years old. Rieger lived in Brougham Place, North Adelaide and enjoyed golf and bowls. The Rieger Building at the Adelaide Children’s Hospital recognises his contribution to the ACH and within SA medicine. His son, Tony, was an Adelaide plastic surgeon and talented artist. Sir Clarence Oscar Ferrero Rieger CBE died on 23rd May 1978. His wife Bessie and sons, John and Tony, and daughter Helen, survived him.

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