Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

HUNTER Geoffrey Allan MB BS FRACP MRCP MACD

1920-2006

Geoffrey Allan Hunter was born, on 27th April 1920, in North Adelaide, SA. He was the son of Roy Allan Hunter, an engraver, and Alinda Myrtle, nee Weeks. He was educated at Adelaide High School. He won a scholarship to study medicine at the University of Adelaide; he graduated MB BS in 1942.

Hunter had joined the CMF on 3rd July 1941, when he was a medical student. He was called up for full-time duty in the AAMC, on 27th July 1942, at Wayville Camp Hospital, as a captain and granted leave without pay, presumably to complete his studies.  He transferred to 52 Camp Hospital on 17th October 1942 and then moved to 101 AGH, SA, on 1st November 1942. During this time, he undertook a course at the School of Tropical Medicine and Military Hygiene. Following completion of the course, he was posted to 123 Army Special Hospital but was detached to 105 AMH at Keswick, SA on 20th March 1943.   He was then transferred to 121 AGH before being sent to LoC NT on 31st March 1943.  When he was posted to 2/14 FdAmb, he enlisted for service in the AIF at the Eight Mile Camp, NT, on 29th April 1943.  He gave as his next of kin his father Roy Hunter of 21 North Street, Collinswood, SA. Remaining in Australia, Hunter variously served with 35 Camp Hospital, 121 AGH and 107 AGH before being posted to 33 Camp Hospital on 16th March 1944.  He returned to 105 AMH, in Adelaide, on 18th September 1944, for treatment for recurrent urticaria and to be medically re-assessed for re-allotment to a different unit. He was attached to 121 AGH before being posted to 105 AMH on 21st February 1944. During June 1945 he had cellulitis of the upper arm and was evacuated to 64 Camp Hospital in SA, on 8th November 1945. In March 1946 he was allotted to the Interservice Medical Wing in SA L o C. His appointment was terminated on the 19th June 1946, he was placed on Reserve of Officers.

During his war service, Hunter married Betty Hazel Cheek on 15th February 1946. She was the daughter of Royden Arthur Cheek and Olive May, nee Brook. Following the war, Hunter was a medical registrar at the RAH from 1955-1956. He went to England to further his studies and gained MRCP in 1957 and returned to Adelaide in 1958. Hunter was elected a FRACP in 1969 and Member of the Australian College of Dermatologists in 1967. He was an honorary assistant dermatologist at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital from 1962 to 1966 before taking up an appointment as an honorary dermatologist at the Royal Adelaide Hospital and later Visiting Dermatologist. He was also an honorary consultant histopathologist of skin at the IMVS. He wrote many scientific papers about dermatology and was a Censor for the College of Dermatologists. He died on 11th November 2006 and his three children 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