Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

MAGAREY Ashley Henderson LLB MB BS

1908-1965

Ashley Henderson Magarey was born, on 3rd September 1908, in Adelaide. He was the only son of Frank William Ashley Magarey, a medical practitioner, and Louise Koeppen, nee Henderson. He had a younger sister, Vera who was born in 1911. Magarey was educated at St Peter’s College and the University of Adelaide, where he studied law and medicine. He graduated LLB and, in 1940, MB BS. He married Clarice Elton Mayo on 10th January 1940. She was the daughter of Sir Herbert Mayo, a prominent South Australian Supreme Court Judge, and Clarice Gwendoline Thomson, nee Melrose. Magarey and his wife, only had one child, a daughter, Alison Ashley Magarey.

Magarey, who had been a temporary captain in 3rd FdAmb commenced full-time duty in the CMF, as an AAMC captain, on 1st October 1941. Many members of the Magarey family served Australia in WW2, highlighted by his enlistment medical examination performed by Captain Ivan S Magarey, on 29th August 1941, and his Mobilisation Attestation Form was witnessed by William Ray who had married one of his cousins. Magarey, initially served in 4MD attached to HQ and, 18Th LH MG Regt; later he served in the Camp Hospital, Wayville and 13th Fd Regt, Woodside. He entrained from 4MD to 2MD, with 13 Fd Regt on 24th December 1941 in preparation for service in PNG. He embarked for 8MD, Port Moresby on 27th December 1941, and arrived there on 28th January 1942. After a short detachment to 49 Bn, he returned to 13 Fd Regt. He transferred to the AIF, on 30th September 1942, and again was attached to 49 Bn. Magarey returned to South Australia in February 1943. He was temporarily attached to 59 ACH as OC on 20th March 1943 and subsequently served in a number of South Australian based units which included 52 ACH, 105 AMH, 121 AGH. He undertook a five-week locum for Dr JG Sweeney, of Croydon North, in November and December 1943. He was detached to 34 ACH, in NSW in July 1945 and briefly returned to SA in August, before moving to 47 ACH in QLD; he returned to SA and was discharged, on 18th April 1946, and placed on the Reserve of Officers.

Following the war, Magarey took up general practice in Adelaide and was living at Mile End, SA. Ashley Henderson Magarey died on 10th December 1965 in Lockleys, South Australia and was buried at the North Road Cemetery, Adelaide. His wife and daughter 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