Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

MAGAREY Frank Rees

MD MRCP FRCPath FRCPA FRACS

1912-1983

Frank Rees Magarey was born on 23rd August 1912, in Millswood, Adelaide.  He was the only son of Percy Rupert Robertson Magarey, a chemist, and Alice Margaret Magarey. He had one sister, Elizabeth Alice Magarey. He was educated at Scotch College, Adelaide and studied medicine at the University of Adelaide, graduating in 1935.  While at university he witnessed a thief stealing money from the dressing shed of the St Peter's College Boat Club and had to give evidence in court. He married Margaret Martha Haslam, on 15th September 1938. She was the daughter of Mr and Mrs JA Haslam. They travelled to the United Kingdom, in 1938, where he took a position as a demonstrator in anatomical pathology and bacteriology at the Welsh National School of Medicine in Cardiff, Wales. He returned to Adelaide and completed his Doctor of Medicine at the University of Adelaide, graduating in 1941.

Magarey was placed on the Reserve of Officers, as a captain in the AAMC, in October 1940. He enlisted in the 2/AIF on 29th May 1941, on the completion of his doctorate. He was posted as a captain MO to 2/2nd AGH, and arrived in the Middle East, on 25th July 1941. He was initially detached for duty to the Artillery Training Regiment and then returned to 2/2nd AGH until November 1942; followed by a posting of MO to 1 and 11 AGH, until February 1942 when he returned to 4 MD, Adelaide, via Bombay, India, arriving on 24th March 1942. He was promoted to major, on 9th September 1942 and posted as a pathologist to 115 AGH. He had several appointments throughout 1943 until 1945 in 121 AGGH, 1/11 AGH and 115 AMH. He was admitted to 105 AGH in Adelaide with renal colic in July 1943. He relinquished his appointment as a pathologist on 13th December 1945 and was discharged from the Army.

Magarey returned to Cardiff after the war, as a lecturer and then senior lecturer in pathology. He returned to Australia and took up a professorial position and head of the Department of Pathology at Sydney University, in 1952.  He re-established links with Prince Alfred Hospital for pathology practice for medical students. Magarey was Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, at Sydney University from 1960 to 1965, while retaining his position as Professor of Pathology.  He played an active role in the planning of the five-year medical degree, implemented in 1973, and introduced the internationally recognised pathology cataloguing system devised by Maud Abbot for students. He received an honorary fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons in 1964. Magarey retired, in 1977, when a joint Chair in Pathology was established between Sydney University and Prince Alfred Hospital with Dr VJ McGovern taking up the position. Magarey was an amateur sailor and a member of the Sydney Amateur Sailing Club. Frank Rees Magarey died on 6th October 1983; he had three children, his son Christopher is a surgeon.

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

Obituary to be found in The University of Sydney news, October 25 1983.