Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

WEST Esmond Frank MCh Orth MB BS FRCSEd FRACS

1899 – 1988

Esmond Frank West was born on 31st March 1899, at Rose Park, SA. He was the youngest son of William Arthur West, the Chief Inspector of Schools, SA, and Emilie, nee Burnard. He was one of nine children and had five brothers and three sisters. He was educated at Norwood Public School and Adelaide High School.  He gained a bursary to study medicine at the University of Adelaide, and graduated in 1922.  He was awarded the Dr Dane Thomas Scholarship and achieved top place in all his year examinations except for 1st year when he came second.  He completed his resident year at the Adelaide Hospital. West married Meta Pauline Spehr, a nurse, on the 18th October 1924, at the James Gartrell Memorial Church, Rose Park, SA. She was the daughter of August George Spehr, a farmer, and Louise Pauline, nee Pohlner, of Millicent, SA. Meta also came from a large family and was one of ten children; four brothers and five sisters.  West travelled to England for post-graduate work in surgery, from 1925 to 1926, achieving his FRCS, Edinburgh, in 1926. He returned to Adelaide and went into general practice from 1926 to 1934. He also joined the CMF and was appointed to the AAMC on 11th January 1927. He was elected to the Fellowship of the Royal Australian College of Surgeons in 1932. He undertook post-graduate work in orthopaedic surgery, in England, and graduated, MCh Orth Liverpool, in 1936.

West was on the Reserve of Officers list in 1939, and was seconded into the 2/AIF on 1st July 1940. Posted as a MO to 2/8th FdAmb he was promoted to major. He undertook a chiropody course and re-joined his unit in September 1940. He was transferred to 3 AGH in 4MD and then detached to 9 AGH in December 1940. He embarked for the Middle East in February 1941 arriving in Palestine on 23rd March 1941. He was attached to 1 Aust Conv Depot in Dimra until May 1941. He was admitted to 1 AGH with sand-fly fever in July 1941 and, after convalescence was posted 6 AGH on 24th September 1941. West had a short period on special duties from February to March 1942 and then posted back to 6 AGH. After several bouts of illness, he returned to Australia on 1st April 1943 and was appointed OC surgical division 108 AGH on 11th May 1943, on promotion to lieutenant colonel. After a short detachment to 115 AMH in January 1944, he was placed on the Reserve of Officers on 16th April 1944.

West continued his practice in orthopaedics, after the war, and lived in Scott Street, Dulwich, with his professional rooms at Mount Osmond. He was the senior orthopaedic surgeon to the Royal Adelaide Hospital, and occasionally an honorary anaesthetist. He was appointed a consulting orthopaedic surgeon to the Adelaide Children’s Hospital where he was also appointed an honorary physiotherapist. He held posts in the outpatient and inpatient department of the Adelaide Children's Hospital.  He was a consulting orthopaedic surgeon to the Repatriation General Hospital at Daw Park, orthopaedic consultant to the Tuberculosis Services of SA, the Northfield Wards of the Royal Adelaide Hospital and the orthopaedic surgeon for the Crippled Children's Home at Somerton, SA.  West had two children, John Bernard West, born in 1930, and Rosemary West born in 1932. Esmond Frank West died on 14th January 1988. His wife, Meta, who died in 1995, and two sons 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