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PEDLER John Meavious KStJ 1911 – 2009

MB BS

John (Joe) Meavious Pedler was born at Semaphore, on 18th April 1911. He was the only son of Mr and Mrs Rupert JH Pedler and, as a child, he lived in Kadina, SA. He was educated at St Peter's College and studied medicine at the University of Adelaide, graduating MB BS in 1935. While at university he obtained a Blue for lacrosse, and an all Australian University Award for intervarsity lacrosse. Following his resident year at the Adelaide Hospital, Pedler became a house surgeon at the ACH, where he met and married Beatrix Margaret (Meg) Kennedy.  They married at St Peter's College Chapel on 20th May 1938. She was a Registered Nurse and the daughter of Alexander Kennedy of “Wodgina", Port Hedland, WA. She was also the niece of internationally acclaimed violinist Daisy Kennedy and a cousin of Lauri and Dorothy Kennedy, notable cellists and pianists. In addition, her father Alexander had accompanied Mawson on his expeditions to Antarctica in 1911 and 1929. Pedler, and Meg were to have four daughters and one son.

Pedler was appointed to the AAMC, from the Reserve of Officers on 31st October 1940, and attached to 4MD. He named his wife, Beatrix as his next of kin.  He was posted to 2/13th FdAmb on 2nd December 1940 and was promoted to captain. He went to Palestine with the 2/13th FdAmb, from Perth on 19 February 1941. Pedler returned from the Middle East arriving in 4 MD on 16th March 1942. Pedler embarked on the Katoomba for Papua, New Guinea (PNG) on 28th September 1942 with 7th Cav Regt. He was attached to 2/2nd AGH, and relinquished from his appointment as RMO to 7th Cav Regt. He was admitted for a month, in early 1943, to 105 AGH, in Adelaide, with malaria and dengue fever and on discharge returned to PNG. Pedler was plagued with malaria throughout 1943 and 1944 with several admissions to 2/2nd AGH. He remained in his posting to 2/2nd AGH as a specialist physician and promoted to major on 19th October 1943. He returned to Brisbane and was posted as a physician to 2/7th AGH. Pedler then left for Lae, PNG, on 30th September 1945, and re-allocated for duty with 102 CCS. During this time, he served on the Sanananda Track behind enemy lines where his unit was thought to be lost to the Japanese.  His wife Meg received a letter stating he was missing in action. However, he returned to Australia on 19th December 1945, and to South Australia on 14th January 1946.  His appointment was terminated on 21st January 1946, and he was placed on the Reserve of Officers list. 

Upon his return to South Australia, he set up a general practice in St Peters with Drs. Finnigan, Davies and Sidey. He was a director of the Medical Defence Association of SA, a trustee of the Medical Benevolent Association of SA, and a Commissioner of the St John’s Ambulance Brigade SA District, and later honoured with a Knighthood of the Venerable Order of St John of Jerusalem. He was a keen camellia grower and was president of the Camellia Society of South Australia, receiving the Roger Hall Medal in 1980, president of the Australian and International Camellia Research Societies. He was deputy chairman of the Botanic Gardens from 1975 to 1983 having been on the board since 1970. His wife Meg died in 1962, and he remarried Jocelyn Cherry, nee, Britten-Jones. John Meavious Pedler died, on 2nd January 2009, at age 97. His son, Adam, who had joined him in general practice, and his daughters, Hatherleigh, Josephine, Georgina and Margaret, 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