Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

TOSTEVIN Alfred Ladyman MB BS FRACS DO (Oxon)

1898 - 1973

Alfred Ladyman Tostevin was born, on 28th February 1898, in Red Hill, SA. He was the son of Alfred Thomas Tostevin and Emily, nee Ladyman His father was a grocer in Redhill, and the fifteen-year-old Tostevin was severely burnt about the face and body, when he was filling bottles of methylated spirit and sealing the bottles with wax and one caught on fire.  He studied medicine at the University of Adelaide where he graduated MB BS in 1923. He won the Everard prize, which he shared with Herbert Hocking, for the top student in final year medicine in addition to the Gosse medal for Ophthalmology. After his resident medical officer year at the Adelaide Hospital, he went into private practice in Murray Bridge, SA. He married Lily Emmiline Sara, a skilled pianist on 6th October 1924.  She was the daughter of John Michael Sara and Emma Jane, nee Blewett. His interest in ophthalmology resulted in his postgraduate study at Moorfield Eye Hospital in London and the Diploma in Ophthalmology in 1928. They returned after a year overseas to their home in Alpha Road, Prospect, SA. He was a senior honorary ophthalmologist at the Adelaide Hospital and Gosse lecturer in ophthalmology at the University of Adelaide. He was admitted to the Fellowship of the RACS in 1932. He was a member of the Ophthalmological Society of Australia from its inception in 1938. He was a member of the research committee of the Ophthalmological Institute of Australia. He was on the board of the Wakefield Street Hospital, Adelaide. With colleagues, Charles Swan and Geoffrey Barham Black and did highly significant work on the rubella problem in SA. He frequently travelled, both before and after the war to ophthalmology centres internationally to keep up to date with the latest advances in this discipline. His yachting interest was enhanced by having a yacht, Nyroca, built for him in 1934. The Nyroca was used as a supply craft by the Navy during WW2.

Although Tostevin had been a consultant to the RAAF since 1935, he applied to join the RAAF, in September 1940.  He indicated, that he had had one year of experience in general practice at Murray Bridge and twelve years as a specialist and that his interests were sailing and horse riding. Tostevin, who at that time also had a practice at 163 North Terrace, Adelaide, was granted a commission, on probation, at the rank of squadron leader on 14th October 1940. He was placed in the RAAF Medical Branch, as a part-time oculist consultant (ophthalmologist), His probationary appointment was confirmed on 21st August 1941. At some point, and his file does not make it clear, he was promoted to wing commander. He practised as a part-time specialist in the RAAF in Adelaide throughout the war. He was transferred from the Active Reserve of the Citizen Air Force to the General Reserve of the RAAF in May 1951 and to the Retired list in 1959.

Tostevin had purchased property at One Tree Hill, which he named ‘Nyroca’, in 1939, and developed a jersey cattle stud which gained many prizes at agricultural shows. He sold this property in 1948 and, in 1951 bought 17,000 acres of undeveloped land near Padthaway in the south-east of SA which he was to develop as a thriving beef cattle producing property. He became president of the Ophthalmological Society of Australia from 1952 to 1953. He was able to relax sailing and fishing. Alfred Ladyman Tostevin died on 11th August 1973; survived by his wife, son and daughter.

Blood Sweat and Fears 111. Medical Practitioners who served in WW2. Open Books Howden, Adelaide. 2019

Swain, Jelly, Verco, Summers.

uploaded by

Annette Summers AO RFD