Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

VERCO Luke Everard MBE MB BS

1912 -1996

Luke Everard Verco was born on 17th June 1912 in Yankalilla, SA.  He was the son and fourth child of Dr Sydney Manton Verco and Alice Mary Gladys, nee Everard. His father died in 1931, leaving his mother, Alice, with no income and four children to feed and educate. Somehow with the help of the extended family, she managed to send all the children to private schools. She ‘scratched and saved’ to get enough money to send her son, Luke, through medical school. Verco was educated at St Peter’s College and studied medicine at the University of Adelaide, where he graduated MB BS in 1940. He married Ruth Stapylton Taylor on 18th April 1941 she was the daughter Mr and Mrs NP Taylor of Nairne, SA. Verco undertook his resident year at the Adelaide Hospital; this was followed by further experience as a resident medical officer at the Adelaide Children’s Hospital.

He joined the CMF on 1st May 1942 and served, on full-time duty at 74 Camp Hospital, Warradale, SA. He was living at Herbert Street Medindie at the time, and his mother Alice was named as his next of kin. He commenced full-time duty on 1st May 1942, and served as an RMO in several South Australian units, including 14 ACH at Loveday, 52 ACH, 33 Garrison Bn, and 25 Garrison Bn throughout 1942. Verco transferred to the 2/AIF as a captain, in the Australian Army Medical Corps, on 30th January 1943, now naming his wife as his next of kin. They were living at Kings Park, SA. He was immediately sent to QLD and then NT.  He served within Australia, throughout the war, with many postings in South Australia, the Northern Territory, and Queensland, including 109 AGH, 123 ASH and 102 AGH. He was discharged, on 14th August 1946, and transferred to the Reserve of Officers.

Verco, after the war, took up general practice in Jamestown, SA. He was to adopt two sons. He was awarded Membership of the Order of the British Empire in June 1979. He was the uncle of John Robin Warren AC, Nobel Laureate (2005) who wrote "We were all very proud of my uncle Luke Verco, who was a captain in the Army Medical Corps during the Second World War. I still have clear memories of him in his uniform. After the war, he became a country general practitioner and my favourite uncle." Ultimately, he retired to Glenelg. Luke Everard Verco died on 29th January 1996.

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