Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

JAY Peter Gerald MB BS FRACS DLO

1917-1972

Peter Gerald Jay was born, on 1st February 1917, at Kensington Park, SA. His parents were Hubert Melville Jay, an ear, nose and throat surgeon, and Dorothea, nee Von Doussa. His grandfather, also a medical practitioner, was one of the earliest ear, nose and throat surgeons to practice in this speciality. Jay was educated at St Peter’s College and studied medicine at the University of Adelaide, graduating MB BS in1941. He undertook his residency at the RAH followed by two days a week of general practice, which he did not enjoy. He married Helen Magnus Wald, on 2nd May 1942, at St Peter’s College Chapel. She was the daughter of Magnus Wald and Clara, nee Woodcock. They had four sons, Sandy, Michael, Christopher and Toby.

Jay first joined the AAMC, as a fifth-year medical student, 9th August 1940, in South Australia, before his marriage.  He then enlisted as a captain, on 2nd March 1942, in Narellan, New South Wales, naming his wife Helen as his next of kin. He had served on the reserve of officers of the AAMC from 12th September 1941 until 1st March 1942. Jay was attached to 105 AMH and taken on strength to 10 Bn in May 1942, where he was posted as RMO to 2/48 Bn in May 1942.  He remained with that unit in Darwin from 1942 until 1943. Jay was for a time OC 58 Camp Hospital. He served in several Australian military hospitals, including 52 AGH. He contracted dermatitis of his hands during this time and had to be medically re-classified in January 1944. His dermatitis was re-assessed in August of that year, and he was posted to general duties at 105 AMH. He was made the Registrar of the Inter-Service Medical Wing of the Demobilisation Centre, in 4MD, from 2nd November 1945 until 16th April 1947, and, at the same time, was DADMS HQ 4 MD from 4th July 1946 to 16th April 1947. He was promoted major in September 1946 and, in January 1947, was granted 90 days pre-discharge training leave until April 1947. His appointment was terminated on the 16th April 1947.  He was placed on the Reserve of Officers of RAAMC in 4 MD.  Later he was appointed as Consultant Oto-rhino-laryngologist in Central Command with the rank of lieutenant colonel.

After the war, Jay first started his postgraduate study in ear, nose and throat surgery, at the University of Adelaide. He travelled to England as an army medical officer to the prisoners of war being repatriated to Germany, in 1947. Once in England he worked at the Royal Ear Nose and Throat Hospital and Kent County Aural and Ophthalmic Hospital, obtaining his Diploma of Oto-rhino-laryngology in 1949. Returning to Australia, he entered private practice with his father and, at the same time, was appointed as an honorary assistant aural surgeon to the ACH and a clinical assistant to the Ear, Nose and Throat Department of the RAH. He received his Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons in 1952. He was also Laryngologist to the Tuberculosis Services of South Australia from 1950 and Otologist of the Commonwealth Acoustic Laboratory South Australia from 1950. Jay played in many competitive sports and in his later years he enjoyed water-skiing, fishing and golf.  He represented the Royal Adelaide Golf Club in pennant games and was elected to the committee of the club in the 1960s. He was so keen on his golf as his health deteriorated, he bought a small motorbike to use at the Victor Harbour Golf Club. It was while using this motor bike that Peter Gerald Jay died on the golf course on 26th Feb 1972, survived by his wife and four sons, David (Sandy), Michael, Christopher and Peter(Toby).

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

See Aust J Otolaryng January 2000 3 5 for an obituary. Including a story that he was put off General Practice by having to deal with a psychiatric patient with an axe.

He served in the ENT department at the then Adelaide Children's Hospital

He was a fine golfer.