Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

BONNIN Josiah Mark AM MD FRCP FRACP

1912-1991

Josiah Mark Bonnin (Mark) was born on 14th October 1912 in Adelaide.  He was the son of Dr James Atkinson Bonnin, and his wife Winifred, nee Turpin.  He was educated at St Peter’s College and studied medicine at the University of Adelaide, graduating MB BS in 1936.  He was tall and proficient in many sports being awarded blues for rowing and lacrosse.  Having completed his residency at the Adelaide Hospital, he undertook training in internal medicine at the Central Middlesex Hospital, London, from 1938 to 1939 passing the MRCP exams in 1939.  He was made FRCP 1962.

Bonnin returned to Adelaide and enlisted, into the 2/AIF, in May 1940.  He was sent to the Middle East in August 1940 and was posted MO 2/1st CCS, in November 1940, and served in the 6 Div Cyrenaica Campaign at Mersa Matruh and Benghazi, in early 1941, before the withdrawal to Egypt.  Bonnin was travelling in a small ship which was bombed by the Luftwaffe and sank.  He had to free himself underwater and spent several hours swimming in the Mediterranean before he was rescued.  2/1st CCS then moved to Nazareth, Palestine, and finally to Syria; Bonnin however, was posted 2/2nd AGH, Kantara, from August to December 1941.  He returned to Australia, in March 1942, and was posted to 118 AGH, Northam, WA, until June 1942.  Promoted to major, he was posted as a specialist physician to 109 AGH in Alice Springs.  While in WA, he had married Gertrude Avis Watts, a nurse, serving in the Army.  She was the daughter of Mr and Mrs Godwin Watts of Perth. They had four children, a son and three daughters.  Bonnin was then appointed to 115 AGH, Heidelberg, in October 1942.  During 1943, as an indication of excellence, he passed the MRACP exams, and was later elevated to FRACP in 1954.  He was promoted to lieutenant colonel, in January 1944, and posted OC Med 2/6th AGH at Rocky Creek, Atherton Tableland, QLD.  He went with the unit to Labuan, Borneo, in July 1945.  He was evacuated to Australia from the 2/6th AGH, in November 1945, via 107 AGH and then to 105 AMH, Daw Park. He was Mentioned in Despatches and discharged from 2/AIF in January 1946 and placed on the Reserve of Officers until 1967. 

Bonnin gained his MD at the University of Adelaide, in 1946, and was appointed an honorary assistant physician at the RAH, and later an honorary physician from 1956 to 1970.  After an appointment as visiting physician from 1971 to 1977, he was appointed as Emeritus Physician. Bonnin was an outstanding teacher of students and postgraduates at the RAH, and elsewhere, until his retirement.  He served the RACP with distinction as censor from 1958 to 1967, as a councillor from 1965 to 1973, and chairman of the SA state committee; he was awarded the College Medal in 1984. His passion, direct speaking and expertise, as the founding father of the National Parks Foundation of SA, led to the establishment of many reserves and conservation parks.  For this, he was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 1989.  He had many interests but was an expert ornithologist, backed by being a fine photographer and conservationist.   Josiah Mark Bonnin died on 5th March 1991.

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