Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Published Biography

“Blood, Sweat and Fears” ISBN: 978-0-64692-750-3 Medical Practitioners and Medical Students of South Australia who served in WW1: 2014

Additional Biography

Early Life

Douglas Robson Wallmann was born on the 4th of March 1896 at North Adelaide, SA, the youngest of the seven children of Gustav August “Gus” Wallmann and Louisa Haynes (née Davis) of 26 Strangways Terrace, North Adelaide, SA. Gus Wallmann was born in South Australia and had been a bank manager, auctioneer, sharebroker and farmer. Gus was best known as a Sharebroker.

The family used the “nn” spelling of their surname until mid way through World War I when most of the family adopted the spelling Wallman. While his birth was registered as Gustav August Wallmann, Gus was general referred to as Mr. A.G. Wallmann and later Mr. A.G. Wallman.

Gus and Louisa had married in 1879 and their children were Agnes Louise (Lulu, b1879), Hubert Philcox (b1882), Reginald Horton (b1884), Charles Roy (b1887), Leslie Hayes (b1891), Arthur Gordon (b1892) and Douglas Robson (b1996).

Schooling

Douglas attended St Peter’s College, Adelaide from 1907 to 1912. He passed his Primary Examinations in October 1910, followed by his Junior Public Examinations in 1911. Douglas was equal fourth in Inorganic Chemistry in the Special Honors List for the Junior Examinations. He passed his Senior Public Examinations in December 1912 and Special Senior Examinations in March 1913.

While at St Peter’s College, Douglas was a bow for the College’s coxed fours crew who competed the Summer Regatta in December 1912.

Douglas and his elder brother (Arthur Gordon Wallmann) were founding members of the Plover Patrol, 1st Kensington Troop in 1909. A photograph was published in ‘The Observer’ on the 22nd of January 1916 when all the pictured scouts had joined up to serve in World War I.

Adelaide University

Douglas commenced studying at Adelaide University in 1913, to complete the pre-requisite subjects required to progress to 1st year medicine. In December 1913, Douglas passed Latin, a Senior Public Examination subject required to enter medicine and Chemistry in the Higher Public Examinations.

He commenced the first year of the medical course in 1914 and in December gained a 2nd Class pass. In November 1915, he passed second year (3rd Class), September 1916 - third year (3rd Class), November 1917 - fourth year (3rd Class). Douglas gained his MB BS in December 1918.

University Sport

Athletics
Douglas was second in the One Mile Handicap race at the Adelaide University sports in June 1913.

Rowing
Douglas rowed for the University in the Henley Eights and the Sir Edwin Eights at the Henley-on-Torrens regatta in December 1913 and rowed in the Gentlemen’s Race at the Ladies’ Rowing Association regatta in October 1915.

Cricket
Douglas played cricket for Adelaide University in the B Grade during the 1915/1916 season.

World War I

Douglas was a third-year medical student when he joined the Australian Army Medical Corp on the 18th of June 1916. He was 19 years and three months old, 5’10”, 148 lbs, with a fair complexion, grey eyes and brown hair. He required his father’s permission to join up and at that time both father and son were still using the “nn” spelling of their surname. Douglas was discharged from the AAMC in July 1916 to return to his medical studies at Adelaide University.

Douglas was the third of the six Wallmann brothers to enlist. Hubert Philcox Wallman enlisted on the 20th of December 1915. Hubert, a mining engineer, became a Lieutenant. He had enlisted using the single “n” spelling of the surname Wallman. Arthur Gordon Wallmann (SN 2742) enlisted on the 4th of January 1916. Arthur was a farmer enlisted in January 1916. He was a Trooper (Private) in the 9th Light Horse Regiment. Arthur’s war record has the “nn” spelling of Wallmann.

After reaching near the end of his final year of medicine, Douglas enlisted for the second time, on the 17th of June 1918. By then he was 22 years and four months old and a 5th year medical student. On his second enlistment, he used the single “n” spelling of his surname and he appears to have adopted that spelling for the remainder of his life.

Douglas was discharged on the 18th of November 1918 due to the cessation of hostilities. He did not serve overseas in WWI.

Tragically for Douglas and the Wallman family, his father passed away in July 1918 aged 63 years, leaving a widow, one daughter and six sons. Two of his sons were still serving overseas at the time.

Career and Family Life

By January 1919, Douglas was described as “of Grote Street” and he is likely to have been the Dr. Wallman who was locum tenens to Dr Leitch at Port Pirie in April 1919.

On the 10th of April 1920, Douglas married Florence Maya Victoria Wood, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J.R. Wood at St James’ Church, King Street, Sydney.

After his marriage, Douglas practised at Gilgandra, NSW. In July 1921, he was a member of the committee of the newly formed Gilgandra Bowling Club. Douglas and Maya’s first child, Richard John Robson Wallman, was born at Gilgandra, NSW, on the 4th of May 1922. They left Gilgandra in May 1923.

In May 1923, Douglas purchased a practice at Naracoorte in the South East of South Australia. His practice was located at Smith Street, Naracoorte (previously also spelled Narracoorte). Douglas was known professionally as Dr. D. Robson Wallman, but appears to have continued to be called Douglas in private life. Dr. Wallman and his partner Dr. Pavy purchased an X-Ray machine in July 1913 for use at the Naracoorte Hospital.

Patricia Robson Wallman was born in 1923 after the couple had moved to Naracoorte.

Douglas quickly integrated into the community at Naracoorte. By November 1923, he was the secretary of the Naracoorte Cricket Club and on the committee of the Naracoorte Institute by March 1924. He was a committee member for the ‘Back to Naracoorte’ celebrations in September 1924. Douglas showed roses at the Naracoorte H & F Society Spring Show in November 1924.

Douglas, Maya and their two children went on a motor trip to Gippsland, Victoria in February/March 1926. Douglas was a member of the Naracoorte Golf Club and the Naracoorte Tennis Club.

Douglas and Maya’s second son, James Douglas Robson Wallman was born in 1927.

From October 1928, Douglas was on the committee of the Naracoorte Cycling Club. The family holidayed at Henley Beach in December 1928. By June 1929, Douglas was Lodge Surgeon to the Mosquito Plains Lodge of the Oddfellows and by October that year, was honorary surgeon to the Naracoorte Racing Club.

In July 1930, after almost eight years at Naracoorte, Douglas purchased a practice in the city. Douglas’s partnership with Dr Harold Keith Pavy was officially dissolved on the 31st of July 1930. On the 24th of July 1930, the people of Naracoorte and surrounding areas gave a farewell to the doctor and his family.

The family then moved to 30 Grange Road, New Hindmarsh (now West Hindmarsh). Sadly, in May 1931, Douglas’s mother, Louisa Haynes Wallman died, aged 76.

In December 1932, Douglas and Maya travelled to New Zealand on holidays with Maya’s brother, Mr. Andrew Wood of Edwin Terrace, Gilberton, SA and his wife. The couples toured the country by car and found some excellent fishing. Douglas and Maya returned to Adelaide in February 1933.

In June 1937, a motor cycle collided with Douglas’s car on North Terrace, with the rider of the bike receiving a fractured leg and the passenger of the bike a severely lacerated leg and shock. Further car related misfortune occurred in December 1938, when Douglas’s car was stolen, and police believed it was the car used by youths to elude them in a high-speed chase along Torrens Road. Then in February 1939, while taking a patient to have teeth extracted, Douglas had a collision with a Glenelg tram at the intersection of Park Terrace and King William Street.

World War II
The Wallman boys attended St Peter’s College and daughter, Pat (also known as Peggy and later Peg) attended Woodlands. Pat went on a skiing holiday at Mt Kosciuszko in September 1939.

Initially Douglas remained in his practice at 30 Grange Road and in October 1922, he was one of 23 doctors involved in an ARP (air raid precautions) exercise which blacked out the western suburbs of Adelaide.

On the 1st of November 1940, Douglas Robson Wallman enlisted for WWII with Service Number SX27207. Douglas was 46 years of age and he was a Captain in the AAMC. He served until the 13th of January 1944. Douglas’s WWII record was not open to the public at the time of writing the document. It is now available at:

https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=6404300

Douglas was attached to the 3rd Field Ambulance and with the 49th Bn, 39th Bn, 14th Field Ambulance and the 46th Camp Hospital. He served in New Guinea.

Douglas and Maya’s elder son Richard John Robson (Dick) Wallman commenced studying medicine at Adelaide University in 1940 but put his medical career on hold when he enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force on the 3rd of February 1941. Dick was nearly nineteen when he enlisted. He became a Flight Lieutenant. In August 1943, Flight Lieutenant R.J.R. Wallman became engaged to Elizabeth Anne, the only daughter of Mrs Earn Barritt, of Yattalunga, Smithfield and the late Earn Barritt. Dick was home on leave by early September 1945 and was discharged from the RAAF on the 8th of February 1946.

In February 1941, Peggy moved to Melbourne where she became a student at the Homecraft Hostel. Peggy was 17 years old. Maya and younger son, James (Jim) continued to live at 30 Grange Road, New Hindmarsh. Jim completed his Leaving Honors examinations in December 1944 and commenced studying medicine at Adelaide University in 1945.

Post-World War II

Douglas resumed his practice at 30 Grange Road, New Hindmarsh and 188 North Terrace Adelaide in May 1944.

On the 28th of November 1945, Dick married Elizabeth Anne Barritt at the St Peter’s College Chapel.

Dick recommenced studying medicine at Adelaide University in 1946 joining his younger brother Jim as a second-year student. The brothers both gained their MB BS in 1951. After graduation Jim moved to a position at the Royal Perth Hospital, WA.

In January 1948, Peg became engaged to John McKellar Simpson, the younger son of Mr. and Mrs. F.N. Simpson of Kent Town, the couple married on the 28th of April 1948 at the St Peter’s College Chapel.

In March 1950, Douglas and Maya left Adelaide for a holiday in Tasmania. By May 1952, Peg and John Simpson had two children (William and Sally-Ann). The couple also owned a boat which they took to Morgan on the River Murray for a holiday. Douglas joined them for a week of the holiday.

In November 1952, Jim became engaged to Shirley Morrison from Cottesloe, a trainee nurse at the Royal Perth Hospital.

In April 1954, Douglas and Maya travelled to Perth to attend the couple’s wedding on 22 April 1954. After the wedding, Douglas and Maya left from Fremantle, WA onboard the Orient Steam Navigation Company Ltd ship Orsova and arrived in London on the 1st of June 1954. Douglas and Maya were to enjoy twelve months travel in England, Scandinavia and the Continent. In June 1954, they had the privilege of viewing the racing at Ascot from the Royal Enclosure. Douglas and Maya departed from London, England on the 12th of May 1955, on the P and O Steam Navigation Company ship Himalaya, with a destination the Port of Adelaide, Australia. Douglas was 59 years of age.

As most South Australian newspapers are only digitised to December 1954 (at the time of writing this profile) we do not know when Douglas retired from medical practice.

Death

Douglas Robson Wallman passed away on the 16th of June 1969 aged 73 years. He was cremated at Centennial Park Cemetery, Adelaide on the 18th of June 1969. His last abode was at Walkerville. Douglas was survived by his wife whose name was recorded as Florence Maya Victoria Rose Wallman on his death certificate.

Legacy

Dr Richard John Robson Wallman passed away on the 4th of March 2013, aged 85 years. His last abode was at Walkerville, SA.

Author EE (Beth) Filmer

For the complete profile including photographs, newspaper articles, documents and sources prepared for the AUFC/AUCC WWI Memorial Project (in the period 2015-2019) please see the document attached.