Commanders
Directors General Medical Services
Please note that post nominals, including QHP, have purposefully been left unaltered and may not reflect the post nominals entitled to during their appointment term
DGMS - DGAHS - Head of Corps - ADF Surgeon General
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1902 – 1914 Surgeon General W.D.C. Williams KCMG, CB
Born in the mid 1800’s in England, and educated at Sydney Grammer, returned to England to study Medicine at University, graduating with the fold medal in surgery. GEN Williams returned to Australia and began general practice in Sydney. He then became a medical officer in NSW Militia and was the PMO at the only Australian contingent to be sent to the Sudan’s in the 1800’s. Receiving the Khedives medal and the Sudan campaign medal. Attended Aldershot, as the only Australian to train in the Army Medical Service. GEN Williams returned to Australia and inspired other medical officers to establish a depot of medical stores and to collect and design ambulances. His ambulances were used during WW2. As a major, he was sent as PMO NSW Lancers to Sth African war and appointed as PMO of Australia and New Zealand Medical Services, receiving two more medals in this campaign the Queens and Kings medal. GEN Williams became the first DGMS after Federation in 1902. Dying in 1919 GEN Williams is widely believed to be the inspiration of the Army Medical Corps. |
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1914-1918 Major General R.H.J. Fetherson VD
Born in Australia, the son of a medical practitioner. Educated abroad and graduated in Dublin. He returned to Australia and joined his father in general practice in Prahran. Fetherson’s father was the RMO of the 3rd Military District, Victoria and Richard later joined the Militia and rose quite rapidly through the ranks to LTCOL. When Fetherston’s father retired, Richard took over as PMO of the 3rd Military District. He was made DGMS in Australia in 1914 and travelled abroad twice during WW1 to establish all AAMC personnel. He was a founding member of the Royal Australia College of Surgeons a former president of the AMA. On his retirement in 1919 he entered into Australia Parliament. |
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1919-1921 Major General G. Cuseaden VD
Born in England and educated at Trinity College Dublin. Joined the Colonial Medical Service and Toured the West Indies. During the time he was affected by tropical ulcer and was retired from service. After his recovery he went abroad as a ship doctor and was on a transport at the bombing of Alexandria. He journeyed to Australia, settling in Port Melbourne as a general practitioner. He later joined the Militia and eventually succeeded Richard Fetherston as both PMO of the 3rd Military District, Victoria and later as DGMS Australia. |
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1921-1925 Major General Sir Neville Howse VC, KCB, KCMG
Born England and immigrating to Australia due to illness, he began practising as a GP in Orange NSW and later joined the Militia. He served in the South African War attached to Hutton’s Brigade and was invalided to England. He recovered and returned and became the first Australian soldier awarded the VC for rescuing a wounded soldier. At the start of WW1, he was PMO to the first Australian troops to leave Australia abroad the Berram, which went to the aid of New Guinea. These troops were also to suffer the first Australian Medical casualty when Pockley, a man from WA was shot on the road approaching Rabaul. At the end of the war, he ran a convalescent hospital in Cairo and later was made CO to No2 Australia General Hospital. |
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1925-1934 Major General G.W. Barber CB, CMG, DSO, VD
Immigrated to Australia towards the end of the century and set up a general practice in the goldfields. He joined the Militia and served well. Went abroad with the AIF and commanded 1st Station Hospital as Lemnos. Barber became ADMS to Howse and then was appointed Howse’s successor as DGMS. On retiring from service continued to working for a further 17years. |
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1934 –1941 Major General R.M. Downes CMG, VD
Born into the army and played the trumpet when Federation was declared. Joined the Militia after graduating in 1908 he rose quickly through the ranks, to be the youngest LTCOL in the Army and in command of the 3rd Light Horse Field Ambulance at the start of WW1. Serving in Gallipoli and remaining in Palestine to become DMS to Australia Mounted Corps. Initiated training for field ambulance in desert conditions. After his return to Australia he became DDMs 3rd Military District and after Barber retired, DGMS. |
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1941-1942 Major General F. Maguire CMG, DSO, VD
Graduated from Sydney University, he became a teacher in anatomy and later a leading gynaecologist and a founding member of the RCG in Australia. Served as a full time medical staff officer to DGMS Fetherston. Went to France commanding 9th Field Ambulance, 1 AIF and later was ADMS 3rd Division. Between wars he was twice DDMS 2nd Military District (NSW). After Downes retired he became DGMS. |
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1942-1948 Major General S.R. Burston CB, CBE, DSO, VD, QHP
Educated at Melbourne Grammar and then later in Adelaide. Decorated for his service in Gallipoli and in France. Awarded Royal Humane Society medal for saving a life at sea. Rose rapidly to the position of DDMS, 4th Military District. After the formation of the 2 AIF became ADMS of 1 Division. On the formation of RAMC in 1948 he became DDMS to the Corp, then appointed DGMS. |
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1948-1955 Major General F. Kingley Norris CB, CBE, DSO, ED, QHP
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1960-1967 Major General A.J. Clyne CBE, ED, QHP
Born in Melbourne Victoria 1907 and educated at University High School Melbourne and then Melbourne University. Awarded Keith Levi Memorial Scholarship in Medicine and Januesions Prize in Clinical Medicine in 1933. Regional Medical Officer Melbourne Hospital 1934. Commissioned in 1939, saw War Service during 1939-46 serving with Royal Army Medical Corp. In 1947 he was at the Royal Army Medical College, Millbank England and in 1949 was Clinical Assistant, Miller Hospital, Greenwich. 1950-56 saw him as Surgeon at Colchester Military Hospital in England. 1950-60 he was with the British Army of Rhine 1960-67 he was Director General of Army Medical Services at HQ Melbourne. During this period, he was also from 1960-67; Honorary Surgeon to Her Majesty Queen and Consulting Surgeon to HQ of the Middle East Land Forces in Cyprus. |
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MAJOR GENERAL WILLIAM JOSEPH WATSON, AO, MBE, MBBS,FRACMA (1924-2004) Major General William Joseph Watson, who died just three weeks short of his eightieth birthday, was widely recognised as the pre-eminent planner, designer and commander of Australian Army hospitals since word War II. He commanded two overseas military hospitals and a Field Ambulance, and later became the Director General of Australian Army Health Services and Medical Superintendent of the Calvary Hospital in Canberra. Watson was born on 30 May 1924 in Cloncurry, Queensland. He attended Townsville Grammar before joining the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). During World War II, Watson saw active service in the Pacific Campaign as a navigator on Catalina aircraft with 43 Squadron and 111 Air Sea Rescue Flight. In the early 1950s, he studied medicine at Sydney University as part of the post-war Commonwealth Repatriation Training Scheme. In 1956, at the age of thirty-one, he was as a lieutenant in the Regular Army Supplementary Reserve as an undergraduate medical officer. On medical graduation, he undertook residency training at the Mater Hospital North Sydney and was posted to the 1st Battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment (1RAR). He served in 1 RAR for two years as regimental medical officer and saw active service during the Malayan Emergency. MORE |
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1982-1985 Major General W.B. James AO, MBE, MC, QHP
Born in Shepparton Victoria 1930 and educated at RMC Duntroon and the University or Sydney. RAM College (Millbank). Graduated from RMC in 1951 and was posted to an infantry Battalion engaged in the fighting of the Korean War. During a patrol he stepped on a landmine and suffered the loss of a leg and half of the remaining foot, awarded the Military Cross for Gallantry. Resigned from the Army and studied Medicine at Sydney University. After graduating as a doctor he rejoined the Army and was Officer Commanding 8th Field Ambulance SVN Senior Medical Officer 1st Australian Task Force in Vietnam during 1968-69. DDGMS Army Office 1969. He did further Medical studies in London and then Director Medical Services 1975-81 and DGAHS during 1982-86. More |
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1985-90 Major General W.O. Rodgers AO, OBE
Born in 1936 GEN Rodgers was educated at Adelaide University and then later at the Royal Army Medical College in London. Career including appointments as Regimental Medical Officer 1 Recruit Training Battalion 1960, Officer Commanding 7th Camp Hospital Kapooka 1961, Malaya 1961-63, Regimental Medical Officer 2 RAR 1963, 2nd Field Ambulance Vietnam 1966-67, Commanding Officer 1st Military Hospital 1967-69, Senior Medical Officer Australia Forcer Vietnam 1970. Medical Registrar Royal Adelaide Hospital 1971-72, DHS PGN Defence Forcer 1972-74. Colonel (Professional Services) Army Office Canberra 1976-81 and Surgeon General Australian Defence Force 1985-90. In 1990 he was part of a three-person team tasked with assessing new information of the effect of the herbicide Agent Orange. |
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Brigadier David G. Rossi
He was born in 1945 and educated at the University of Adelaide and Royal Army Medical College, Millbank. He saw service in South Vietnam 1971-72 as a Medical Officer with 1st Australia Field Hospital, 12th Field Regiment RAA, HQ AFV, and HQ AAAGV. He held appointments as Officer Commanding 7th Camp Hospital Kapooka 1972-74, Regimental Medical Officer 3 RAR 1976-77, Commanding Officer 1st Field Hospital 1977-79, and Commanding Officer 1st Military Hospital 1980-83. He was appointed Director Medical Services 2nd Military District 1986-88 and served as COL (Professional Services) in 1984-85 and in 1989. He was Director General Army Health Services 1990-92 and later appointed Surgeon General Australian Defence Force 1992-1996. He was appointed as an Officer in the Order of Australia (AO) in 1995 and KStJ in 2000. BRIG Rossi was subsequently promoted MAJGEN. |
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1992-1998 Brigadier P.T.R. Buckley AM
BRIG Buckley entered the Army through the medical undergraduate scheme in 1969, completing his medical degree at Sydney University in January 1972. His military career has included two hospital command appointments, service with Papua New Guinea Defence Force, an assignment as an exchange officer with the United States Army medical department. Several staff positions at the director level and on promotion to Brigadier, appointments both as Director-General Army Health Services and Director-General Defence Health Services. |
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1998 - 2001 Major General J. Pearn, AO, RFD
Major General John Pearn was born in Brisbane in 1940 and was educated at Brisbane Grammar School and the University of Queensland. He enlisted as a Captain (Regimental Medical Officer) in No.1 Casualty Clearing Station in Brisbane in 1965. He has seen active service on three occasions, firstly as Resident Medical Officer to the Pacific Island Regiments (2nd Battalion) in 1966, during Confrontation. He subsequently served in Vietnam as the Consultant Physician to the Australian and New Zealand Force, based at 1st Australian Field Hospital in Vang Tau. He served as the Resuscitationist and Consultant Physician as part of the Forward Surgical Team of the Australian Medical Support Force, during the Rwandan emergency. His Army Reserve career has included command of No 2 Field Hospital (1979 - 1982) in Brisbane and numerous other senior military staff and training postings. In civilian life, Professor Pearn is the former Deputy Head within the Graduate School of Medicine, University of Queenslandand currently its Preceptor; and Consultant Physician to the Royal Women's Hospital in Brisbane and Professor of Paediatrics and Child Health based at the Royal Children's Hospital in Brisbane. Major General Pearn has published comprehensively in the areas of military medicine and military history. Prior to his appointment as Surgeon General, he was the Representative Honorary Colonel for the Royal Australian Medical Corps (RAAMC) in Australia and has been Colonel Consultant (Office of the Surgeon General) in Medical Research and Medical Ethics since 1990. He chairs the Australian Defence Medical Ethics Committee. He has been awarded the Reserve Force Decoration and was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 1979. Major General Pearn retired as the Surgeon General in early 2001. Major General Pearn and his wife Vena have three adult children in the professions of computing science, the theatre and teaching. |
Brigadier Tony Gill joined the Royal Australian Army Medical Corps in November 1980 as a medical undergraduate in Adelaide.
MAJGEN Paul Alexander joined the Army in 1976 and completed his medical training at the University of Melbourne in 1978. Following several years of clinical training in Victorian hospitals, he commenced the first of several regimental appointments as the Regimental Medical Officer (RMO) of the 3rd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment. This was followed by several years working as an RMO in Papua New Guinea with the PNG Defence Force. He then served as the RMO for the Special Air Service Regiment for three years and completed SAS selection during his tenure.