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 [Biographical cuttings on Dr John Matthew Dwyer, pathologist, containing one or more cuttings from newspapers or journals]

DWYER John Matthew OBE ED MB BS FRCPA FACMA FAIM

1905-1987

John Matthew (Barb) Dwyer was born, on 10th December 1905, in Mount Gambier, South Australia. He was the son of Martin Ambrose Dwyer and Agnes Maud, nee Engelbrecht.  He had three siblings Brian, Desmond and Mary and went to school at Sacred Heart College, in Brighton, Adelaide.  He studied medicine at the University of Adelaide graduating MB BS in 1928, and remained at the Adelaide Hospital, working in several general medical and surgical positions, with a growing interest in pathology. He joined the militia as a lieutenant in 1929 and was promoted to captain in 1930.  Dwyer married Vera May Fricker, the daughter of Mr and Mrs Meshach Fricker, on 6th September 1934.

Dwyer enlisted into 2/AIF at the rank of major, on 16th May 1940, while he was Deputy Assistant Director of Hygiene (DADAH) at 4MD, Keswick. He was living at 105 Port Road, Hindmarsh, SA, at the time. He embarked for England on the Stratheden on 27th May 1940.  Posted to the 2/3rd AGH in Milton, England, on 30th July 1940, he was sent on course to study geology and water supply in North Africa. This was in preparation for his posting as DADAH HQ 1 Aust Corps from 6th May 1940 to 9th November 1941, in the Middle East.  He was promoted lieutenant colonel, on 26th January 1942 and posted CO 2/3rd FdAmb from 10th November 1941 to 5th August 1942. He returned to Australia and was appointed ADMS HQ LofC from 6th August 1942 to 30th November 1943. Promoted to colonel he took command of 108 AGH from 1st December 1943, followed by the command of 106 AGH on 7th February 1944 until the 3rd December 1945.  It was during his military service that he gained the nickname ‘Barb’ from a pun on his surname and ‘barbed wire.’  Discharged from the 2/AIF on 3rd January 1946, Dwyer continued in the CMF post-WW2 and was appointed DDMS HQ 4MD. He was promoted colonel, in 1950, and appointed Honorary Surgeon to His Excellency the Governor-General of Australia on 1st February 1953 until 12th January 1956. He was appointed DDMS of Central Command, until 10th December 1962, and then Honorary Colonel RAAMC in South Australia from 1st January 1963 until 25th March 1968 and retired wearing the rank of Brigadier.

Following the war, he continued his interest in pathology and remained at the Adelaide Hospital as an assistant pathologist and the South Australian Government pathologist, a position he retained until his retirement in 1980.  He also maintained a general practice in Bowden, SA. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the Queen’s Birthday Honours of June 1956. He was also pathology adviser to the South Australian Police Force and gave evidence in many cases. Notably, in December 1948, Dwyer was the pathologist who performed the post-mortem in the intriguing Taman Shud case, after an unidentified man was found dead on Somerton Beach in Adelaide on 1st December 1948. The words Taman Shud were found on a scrap of paper in his fob pocket and his identity has never been discovered.   He was state vice president of the SA branch of the AMA twice and became president in 1963.  He served three terms as president of the Royal Flying Doctor Service of South Australia. He held posts as Medical Officer of Health of the City of Adelaide, the Metropolitan Abattoirs Board, and the Metropolitan Country Board. He was also deputy chairman of Beach Petroleum. John Matthew (Barb) Dwyer died on 22nd July 1987 at the age of 82 years, survived by his wife, two sons and three daughters.

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