Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

STOKES Alfred Francis MB BS

1881-1943

Alfred Francis Stokes was born on the 3rd July 1881, at Port Augusta the second son of the Rev Francis Herbert Stokes and Florence, nee Giles. He was educated at St Peter’s College and graduated from Adelaide University with MB BS in 1904. He spent one year at the Adelaide Hospital as a house surgeon, then undertook some locums in South Australia. He proceeded to England and spent a year at the Hospital for Sick Children, Great Ormond St, London and as a Clinical Assistant at the Chelsea Hospital, London, and, later, in Vienna during 1907-1908. Stokes married Barbara Jessop of Barton Terrace, North Adelaide at St Magdalene Church on the 5th June 1912; the Rev Canon Hornabrook, the bride’s uncle, officiated and Rupert Eric Magarey was his best man.

Stokes enlisted on the 12th July 1915 for one year to expire on the 26th August 1916. He was 34 years old, 5ft 11ins, weighed 12st 8lbs, and could ride.  His wife of 24 Moseley St, Glenelg was nominated as his next of kin. He had been active in the AAMC Reserve from 1911 to 1914. He was appointed captain on the 26th August 1915 and posted to 1 AGH at Heliopolis, Egypt. He then went to the 7th F Amb then to the 6th on the 23rd Feb 1916 and on the 19th May detailed as the 6th Bde gas officer. He had two casualty episodes: in Nov 1915 to 3 Aux Con Depot with diarrhoea and on the 28th July 1916 invalided to England for one month with gastritis and was transferred to 1st AAH on the 24th August. He was discharged from the London General Hospital on 31 October 1916 after a week in hospital with gastritis. Stokes requested to the DMS whilst in France with the 6th FdAmb for a return to Australia before January 1917. His locum had applied for active service and he was needed both for financial reasons and for the family. If he did not return there would be only one doctor in the district. His request was accepted. Nigel Basil Gresley Abbott was posted in lieu on his departure. His appointment was terminated in Australia on the 22nd December 1916. He was issued with the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. Stokes youngest brother, Francis Herbert Stokes, was killed at the landing at Gallipoli in 1915.

After his discharge he was of indifferent health until his death at the age of 62 from a heart attack. Despite persistent heart pain as his age progressed, he was very active in the BMA, and became President of the SA Branch of the BMA in 1936.  He was also on the Federal Council of the BMA. Stokes was involved with The Royal Flying Doctor Service and the St John’s Ambulance Brigade. The Federal Council said of Stokes that “he was a clear and logical thinker, always courteous in debate, his politeness to others never led to the deviation from a course he believed to be right” Alfred Francis Stokes died on the 1st July 1943 at Glenelg, South Australia. He was survived by his wife and two sons who both served in WW2, Dr John Lewis Stokes as a Captain in the famous Z Special Unit, and Robert Francis Stokes as a Captain in 27 Bn.

Source

Blood, Sweat and Fears: Medical Practitioners and Medical Students of South Australia, who Served in World War 1. 

Verco, Summers, Swain, Jelly. Open Books Howden, Adelaide 2014. 

Uploaded by Annette Summers AO RFD