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BONNIN Lansell MB BS MCh (Orth) FRCS FRACS

1918-1966

Lansell Bonnin was born on 15th October 1918, in North Adelaide. He was the son of James Atkinson Bonnin, a medical practitioner, and Winifred, nee Turpin, a nurse. His siblings were all high achievers. Noel was a urologist, Mark a physician, James a haematologist and Frew was a lawyer. The two daughters Kath, a nurse, trained at Ru Rua Hospital served in the AANS, and Winifred, a social worker who later married Sir Alistair Stephen.  All of his siblings served during WW2, or just after it. He was educated at the Queen’s School and St Peter’s College. When WW2 began, Bonnin was studying medicine the University of Adelaide, however, his father insisted he complete his studies before volunteering. During his time at university, he was a first-class oarsman and rowed in the university eights and also played Lacrosse. He graduated, in 1941, and completed a year as a junior medical officer at the RAH.

Bonnin enlisted in Army in October 1941, and was transferred from the Reserve of Officers to the CMF on 2nd March 1942, and on 28th August he was seconded to the 2/AIF.  He was posted to 101 AGH on 22nd December 1942, at the rank of captain, and then to 52 Australian Camp Hospital, until he was taken on the strength of 101 AGH on 21st December 1942. He was then transferred to 10CCS 4th January 1943; 10CCS now became 110CCs and was sent to PNG. Bonnin disembarked in Milne Bay on 24th January 1943. He was evacuated to 110 CCS with malaria on 14th March 1943, and then detached to "C" HVY BTY on 27th June 1943. From 12th October he was again evacuated to 110 CCS, and subsequently was restricted to lighter duties on a United States, Hospital ship, but again evacuated to 112 AGH.  Discharged to DDMS LoC, Bonnin was admitted to 105 AMH in SA, on 30 November 1943, and eventually joined that unit. He had further attacks of Malaria before being appointed to 2/2 AGH on 25th January 1944. He was attached to Chemical Warfare Research and Experimental Unit from 1st March 1944, to 10th March 1944.  He had further attacks of malaria in May 1944, and in July 1944 he had tonsillitis. He was judged fit for all duty after that, and detached to 2/6th FdAmb on 26th May 1945. Before returning to his unit, on 27th August 1945, Bonnin embarked for Morotai on 2nd June 1945 arriving on 8th January and onward transferred to Balikpapan on 19th June. He was then appointed to the Inter-Services Medical Wing, SA LoC area on 11th September 1945.  He was placed on the Reserve of Officers of 4 MD on 31st October 1946.

After the war, Bonnin was a surgical registrar at the RAH until 1948. He then went to England to further his studies and training to be an orthopaedic surgeon. Bonnin worked at the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital at Oswestry, Shropshire. While he was there, he gained his Fellowship of the College of Surgeons and his Master's Degree in Orthopaedics. Returning to Adelaide, he married Prudence Vowles, on 11th July 1953 at St Peter’s College Chapel.  She was the daughter of Brigadier Eric Lacy Vowles MC and Marjorie, nee Roberts, of North Adelaide. Prudence’s father was awarded the Military Cross and the Silver Medal for Military Valour (Italy), for bravery in 3rd Field Artillery, in France, during WW1.  Bonnin took up a position as the surgical superintendent at the RAH from 1953 to 1956, and was subsequently appointed as an honorary visiting orthopaedic surgeon to the ACH in 1956. During this time, he also gained his Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons. He was keen to share his knowledge and any new techniques he had learned with junior staff. He was chairman of the honorary staff and a member of the Board of Management of the Adelaide Children's Hospital. His many other appointments included medical directorship of the Somerton Crippled Children's Home and membership of the State committee of the RACS. He also had a busy private practice. One of his interests was fishing. He died suddenly and prematurely due to a subarachnoid haemorrhage on 24th February 1966. He was survived by his wife, Prudence, and their two sons and a daughter.

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