CORNISH, Joseph Ruskin
| Service Numbers: | SX28476, S34261, Officer |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 8 August 1942, N G Force |
| Last Rank: | Major |
| Last Unit: | Australian Army Medical Corps (2nd AIF) |
| Born: | Yankalilla, South Australia, 24 December 1899 |
| Home Town: | Adelaide, South Australia |
| Schooling: | St Peter's College and University of Adelaide, South Australia |
| Occupation: | Medical Practitioner |
| Died: | Toorak Gardens, South Australia , 4 July 1952, aged 52 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Centennial Park Cemetery, South Australia |
| Memorials: |
World War 2 Service
| 8 Aug 1942: | Involvement Major, SX28476 | |
|---|---|---|
| 8 Aug 1942: | Involvement Major, S34261 | |
| 8 Aug 1942: | Enlisted N G Force | |
| 8 Aug 1942: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Major, SX28476 | |
| 31 Aug 1944: | Discharged Major, Officer, Australian Army Medical Corps (2nd AIF) | |
| 31 Aug 1944: | Discharged Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Major, SX28476 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Annette Summers
CORNISH Joseph Ruskin MB BS FRCS FFARACS
1899 - 1952
Joseph Ruskin Cornish was born on the 24th December 1899, in Yankalilla, SA. He was the son of John Cornish and Sarah Annie, nee Ashton who was John's second wife. Cornish had a brother Leslie, the father of Dr Brian Leslie Cornish, an officer in the RAAMC, who served in BCOF and Vietnam. Joseph Cornish was educated at St Peter’s College and studied medicine at the University of Adelaide, graduating MB BS, in 1923. He travelled to the United Kingdom and was awarded a Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh in 1926. Cornish married Evelyn Jean Miller, known as Jean, on 6th April 1932, in the Methodist Church, Malvern. She was the daughter of William Miller and Annie, nee Camac,
Cornish joined the CMF, when he was living at 115 Anzac Highway, Grassmere and served in 3 FdAmb. He was initially posted as a captain, on 6th November 1940, which was later confirmed. He was then promoted temporary major on 16th October 1941. Cornish went with 3 FdAmb to 8MD, Port Moresby, leaving on Christmas day 1941, as OC B Company. He volunteered for service in the 2/AIF, on 8th August 1942, and was promoted to major on 1st September 1942 and allotted for duty at 3 ACH. He was hospitalised, in Jan 1943, at 2/2nd AGH for malaria, and evacuated to Australia on 19th Jan 1943. Following his time in hospital he was appointed to Administrative Command of 34 Camp Hospital at Loveday, SA from April 1943. Cornish was Mentioned in Despatches in 1943. He was transferred to 121 AGH, in January 1944, and later taken on strength of 64 Australian Camp Hospital, before being admitted to 105 Australian Military Hospital with a coronary occlusion and placed on the seriously ill list until 4th March 1944. Cornish subsequently had a reclassification of his medical fitness, by the Army Medical Board, and was classified as being unfit for further service. He had further periods in Kapara for rehabilitation and in 105 AGH. He was discharged, on 31st August 1944, and was placed on the retired list.
Cornish continued as an anaesthetist, at the RAH, after his war service and was the senior medical officer of the Department of Social Services in Adelaide. He was elected a Fellow of the Faculty of Anaesthetists of Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, in 1951, but died before it was awarded. Joseph Ruskin Cornish died on 4th July 1952, when he was living at 52 Kensington Road, Toorak Gardens, SA. He was survived by his wife Jean and their three children, Peter, Barbara and Robert.
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
Click images to start slideshow.