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Published Biographies

Blood Sweat and Fears: Medical Practitioners and Medical Students of South Australia who served in WWI Army Health Services Historical Research Group AMOSA : Verco C, Summers A, Swain A, Jelly, M

Obituary - Royal Australian College of Surgeons ("College Roll").

Additional Biography

Early Life – Education - Sport

Edmund “Teddy” Britten Jones was born on 8th October 1888 to Edward Britten Jones (1858 - 1933) and Mary Agnes Kirby (1854 - 1948)

His formative education was at St Dominic's Priory School - North Adelaide, Xavier College - Melbourne (1898) and then attended Christian Brothers College (CBC) - Adelaide from 1899 -1905. He passed his Junior (1903), Senior (1904) and Higher (1904 & 1904) Public Examinations. He excelled each year finishing top in the over-all Honor's List in 1903 and 9th in 1905. In addition to his fine academic record, he excelled in cricket, football, athletics (College Cup winner 1904) and handball. The football team included some great players, including the legendary Tom Leahy.

Adelaide University

Edmund enrolled in 1906 and completed his medical studies in 1910. An outstanding scholar, he was awarded the Dr. Davies Thomas Scholarship in 1908 (3rd Year) and 1909 (4th Year).

In 1910 (Final Year) on gaining his MB BS Edmund was awarded the prestigious Everard Scholarship. He was also nominated for the 1911 Rhodes Scholarship but narrowly missed out, however, nominated again the following year, he was successful.

Adelaide University Sport

At University, Edmund “Teddy” Britten Jones showed he was an outstanding all-round sportsman. As well as being an A Grade cricketer and footballer for University, playing both in regular competition and Intervarsity contests. He also excelled at handball (SA Singles & Doubles Champion), athletics (5 titles) and tennis (runner up in singles and doubles (with Charlie Dolling) in the 1908 University Tournament). He was awarded an Adelaide University Blue for football in 1908 and as an opening bowler and handy lower order batsman he was awarded a Blue for cricket in 1911 following an excellent 1910/11 season.

In 1910, the Adelaide University Cricket Club established the tradition of playing regular Intervarsity contests against Melbourne and Sydney University. The first contest was against Sydney University in Sydney. Two other members of the 1910 Intervarsity Cricket Team, C F Drew and F N Le Messurier were fellow North Adelaide and University footballers. C.F. Drew was also in 1910 State football Team.

Edmund played league football for North Adelaide from 1907 (as an 18-year-old) till 1910. This was before Adelaide University entered a team in an established South Australian football competition. While playing for North Adelaide he was selected to play for South Australia against the Victorian Football Association in 1910. He was described as “a speedy centreman”.

Edmund was able to play in five intervarsity football matches against Melbourne University (1906, 1907, 1908, 1910 & 1911)

“His Excellency the Governor presided at a meeting of the selection committee for the Rhodes scholarship at Government House on Monday morning, when three hours were occupied in selecting the Rhodes Scholar for 1912. The full committee, consisting of his Excellency the Governor (chairman) the Chief Justice (Sir Samuel Way). Mr. G. J. R. Murray. K.C. Mr. J. R. Fowler, Professor Henderson, Professor Chapman, and Mr. C. R. Hodge (secretary) was present. The meeting did not conclude until about 1 o'clock, when it was announced that the successful candidate was Dr. E. B. Jones, house surgeon at the Adelaide Hospital, and son of Mr. E. B. Jones (Government Valuator). There were five candidates, whose qualifications made them uncommonly even in merit, and the selection was a difficult task. Dr. Jones, however, has a record of which any student might justly be proud. It is well known that he was high up in the list of candidates last year.

Scholastic Career

Mr. Edmund Britten Jones, M.B., BSc. is now 23 years old, having been born on October 8, 1888. He was educated first at St. Dominic's Priory, North Adelaide, and then for a brief term at Xavier College, Melbourne, "passing from there to Christian Brothers' College, where he remained from 1899 until 1905. In 1901 he passed in eight subjects at the Primary examination, and in 1902 and 1903 he passed the Junior public examination, the second time gaining first place in the honours list, and a £10 scholarship. In 1904 and 1905 he passed the Senior public examination and the Higher public examination respectively, being near the top of the honours list each time. He entered the University in 1906, and took the M.B., B.Sc. course. His record at the University was consistently good. He passed the first year in the first-class division, being second on the pass list for the year. The following year he failed in anatomy but passed a supplementary examination in March. In 1908 and 1909 he passed first-class, and secured first place on the list, and the Dr. Davies Thomas scholarship each year. In his graduating year (fifth) he passed second class, but was placed first on the list, and was awarded the Everard scholarship.

Sporting Achievements

Dr. Jones was materially assisted in his candidature by his ability to fulfil the requirements in regard to outdoor sports. He has taken an interest and an active part in cricket, football, athletics, handball, and tennis. He played cricket with C.B.C. A team during the 1903-4-5 seasons, was a member of the University B team in 1909-10 and was elevated to the A team last year. He secured his blue for good all-round performances on the cricket field this year. He played football in the C.B.C. first team for four years prior to leaving that college and with the University first team in 1906-7 and 1911. He played in the inter-University football match in 1906-7, and 1910-11, and gained his football blue in 1908. He played with North Adelaide in the South Australian League in 1910. In athletics he won the CBC cup in 1905 and was member of the inter-University running team in 1906-7-10. He won five handicap races at the University sports meeting. He has been a consistently good performer at handball. He won the C.B.C. doubles championship in 1905, was the South Australian singles champion in 1907, one of the State doubles champions in 1906-7-8-9. He engaged in inter-State handball in 1907 and 1909 and assisted to win for South Australia the inter-State- doubles championship in the latter year. In tennis he was runner-up in the singles and doubles contest at the University tournament in 1908. The new Rhodes Scholar has always enjoyed popularity among his schoolmates.
He was a member of the C.B.C. cricket and football team selection committee, and vice-captain of a cricket team in 1904 and 1905. At the University he has filled the following positions:-

• a member athletic committee in 190S, 1910, 1911;
• a selector of inter-University running team, 1910;
• a member union room committee, 1909;
• a member football club committee, 1910;
• a selector of inter-varsity teams in 1910;
• vice-captain University team in 1910;
• member football blue committee, 1910;
• member general committee of University Sports Association;
• member University procession committee, 1909. 1910;
• joint secretary of University procession and concert, 1910;
• selector delegate, and member of committee of University B cricket team, 1909, 1910;
• committee of Medical Students' Society, 1909 and 1910:
• secretary Medical Students' Society, 1908;
• selection committee of North Adelaide football team, 1910;
• committee of Christian Brothers' Old Collegians' Association. 1910;
• house surgeon, Adelaide Hospital, 1911;
• acting Medical Superintendent, Adelaide Hospital, April and September 1911.”

Adelaide Hospital

Graduating in 1910, his medical career began at the Adelaide Hospital and was appointed house surgeon in 1911. He was acting Medical Superintendent in April and September during the year.

After being awarded the 1912 Rhodes Scholarship he travelled to England to study at Oxford’s Magdalen College (1912-1914) where he was awarded First Class Honors in Physiology.

World War I Service

In 1914, early in the course of the War, Edmund put further study and his medical career on hold and joined the Royal Army Medical Corps and served (mainly in India) for 6 years and was commissioned with the rank of Captain.

First Class Cricketer

Edmund Britten Jones first class cricket career was only short (1916 -18), but successful. While serving in India with the Royal Army Medical Corps, he played two games for “the Europeans” against the Indian Team at Bombay, scoring 105 runs at 26.25 and taking 8 wickets at 16.12 (including a best 5/16).

Post WW1 and Return to Australia

Captain E. Britten-Jones was demobilised from the Royal Army Medical Corps in December 1919 and returned to Australia.

On returning to South Australia in early 1920, Edmund initially re-entered medical practice in the south-east country town of Penola, before moving back to Adelaide to a general practice at Henley Beach. He was also at that time, appointed as the attending doctor at Escourt House, Tennyson, which accommodated blind and other disabled adults and children with tuberculosis and those recovering from rheumatic fever.

Hs also resumed his cricket career in the early 1920’s with West Torrens and played A Grade for a couple of seasons. Ironically, in March 1922 batting at number 11, he scored 60 not out for West Torrens against Adelaide University at University Oval. This is still the highest score for West Torrens by a number 11 batsman.

In 1926, he travelled to England again and took the examinations for his Membership of the Royal College of Physicians (MRCP) and was awarded his MA from Oxford. He returned home in 1927 and was appointed Honorary Physician for Children at the Queen Victoria Hospital and in 1929 and received a similar appointment at the Adelaide Children's Hospital. He was President of the SA Branch of the BMA from 1927-1929. He was also private physician to the State Governor and doctor on call for the Archbishop Room at Calvary Hospital.

Edmund regularly donned the flannels for the annual cricket match between the medical students and graduates.

World War II

Edmund enlisted to serve in WW2 on 26th January 1940 with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He served in the Middle East as Commanding Medical Officer, 2/2 AGH. He was twice Mentioned in Dispatches.

Records at the Australian War memorial indicate that Lieutenant Colonel Britten Jones had composed a Memorandum in 1940 regarding the use of Quinine for Malaria prophylaxis.

Marriage

In 1915, while serving in the RAMC in India, Edmund married Hilda Madeline Fisher, the daughter of Adelaide Lawyer Francis Fisher and granddaughter of the Hon. Joseph Fisher MLC. Hilda had travelled to England (via Marseilles) with her parents in February 1914.

Guy Fisher, Hilda’s brother was a contemporary of Edmund at Adelaide University. They played cricket together and mixed in the same social circles. It is probable that romance blossomed in 1914 when Hilda was on holidays in England, meeting up with Edmund who was then completing his study at Oxford University. In February 1915, shortly after Edmund enlisted in the Royal Army Medical Corps, their engagement was announced. In September 1915, Hilda travelled to India, where Edmund was serving, for the Wedding.

Medical duties and further studies in the UK had effectively ended his cricket career, however in the years that followed Edmund and his wife Hilda were enthusiastic members of the Royal Adelaide Golf Club. Hilda, also an exceptional sportswoman, was a State tennis player and champion golfer. She was State Amateur Golf Champion nine times between 1921 - 1929.

Edmund was also a very keen, but only moderately successful owner of thoroughbred racehorses. He raced 1939 Dequetteville Stakes winner, Whimsical Lass (In partnership with his brother-in-law Guy Fisher).

Edmund Britten Jones was knighted for services to Medicine in 1953 at Buckingham Palace by the young Queen Elizabeth II.

Edmund and Hilda had three children. A son Richard Edmund Britten-Jones (1918 – 2006) was born while they were in India (Richard also became a physician – see below - Family Legacy), Miss Peggy Britten Jones (1920 - ?), Miss Jocelyn Britten Jones (1923 – 2009).

Death

While in the UK in 1953 Edmund had suffered a minor stoke and later that year, shortly after returning to Adelaide, he died at his home in North Adelaide just short of his 65th birthday. He was survived by his wife Hilda (1892 – 1965), son Richard Britten Jones, a cardiologist and two daughters, Peggy (Mrs. Tom McBride) and Jocelyn (Mrs. Alan Cherry).

A Requiem Mass was solimnised at the Calvary Hospital Chapel by the Archbishop of Adelaide Dr Matthew Beovich.

Profile added with the permission of the author Rob O'Shannassy.

For the complete profile including photographs, newspaper articles, documents and sources prepared for the AUFC/AUCC WWI Memorial Project please see the document attached.