Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Excerpt from Blood Sweat and Fears: Medical Practitioners and Medical Students of South Australian who Served in World War 1. Courtesy of the Authors

John Forrest Gardener was born on the 30th July 1890 in Adelaide. He was the younger son of Gavin J and Mary Josephine Gardner. He was educated at St Peter’s College and studied medicine at the University of Adelaide graduating in December 1914. He lived with his parents at Trinity Street, College Park, South Australia.

Gardner enlisted in the AIF on 4th April 1916 at 25 years of age. His father, whose address was given as the Stock Exchange, Adelaide, was named as his next of kin. He had 2½ years experience in the Commonwealth Cadet Corp and 3 months in the AAMC. He was 5ft 11ins tall, weighed 142lbs, of fair complexion, grey eyes and dark hair. He was posted, as a captain, to the AAMC Transport Staff. Gardner undertook two Transport Trips from Melbourne to Suez and returning with invalided soldiers, between the 28th January 1916 and the 22nd July 1916. His appointment was terminated on the 23rd July 1916. He was issued with the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

Gardner moved to Richmond, Victoria after the war.  He married Hilda Josephine Florey from Mitcham, SA on 17th February 1917. She was the older sister of Howard Florey, whom he had met at the Adelaide University. Hilda Josephine Florey was born in 1890 at Malvern, South Australia. After leaving Miss Thornber’s School for Girls, she entered the University of Adelaide in 1908, and graduated MB BS in 1912 and was an outstanding student. She held resident appointments at the Adelaide Hospital, the Adelaide Children’s Hospital, and the Women’s Hospital, Melbourne between 1913 and 1917. John Forrest Gardener died in Richmond Victoria at the beginning of August 1929 from tetanus. He was survived by his wife and his daughter, Joan, who became a distinguished microbiologist with a special interest in antibiotics, sterilisation and infection control. Gardner also had a son who died of septicaemia at the age of seven.