Biographical entry Dunlop, Ernest Edward (1907 - 1993)

Summary

Ernest Edward Dunlop or Weary Dunlop as he was most commonly known, was a renowned surgeon who during World War II treated and cared for over one thousand prisoners of war. He is legendary for his medical skills, compassion and dedication and has received a multitude of honours and awards. Initially, Dunlop studied pharmacy, but soon after graduating he took up medicine at the University of Melbourne. After completing his studies, Dunlop joined the Citizen Military Forces and then the Royal Australian Military Corps where he was appointed Captain. He worked as a ship's surgeon on his way to England where he undertook postgraduate studies. In 1939 WWII broke out and Dunlop enlisted with the Royal Australian Military Corps where he was appointed specialist surgeon with the Emergency Medical Services at St Mary's Hospital in Paddington, UK. Then was the appointed the Medical Liaison Officer between the British and ANZAC forces in Greece, followed by postings with the 2/2 Australian Casualty Clearing Station in Tobruk, then in Palestine and Indonesia. In 1942 his hospital in Java was captured by the Japanese and all were made prisoners of war (POW). For the next three years Dunlop and thousands of other POW worked on the Burma-Siam Railway.

Details

Events

1929

Education - Bachelor of Pharmacy completed at the Victorian College of Pharmacy

1934

Education - Bachelor of Medicine (MB) and Bachelor of Surgery (BS) completed at the University of Melbourne

c. 1935

Career position - Ship's Surgeon on vessel sailing for London

c. 1935

Award - Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons (FRCS)

1938 - 1942

Education - Postgraduate studies at St Bartholomew's Hospital, London

1939

Career position - Specialist Surgeon of Emergency Medical Services at St Mary's Hospital in Paddington, New South Wales

1942 - 1946

Life event - Prisoner of War

1942 - 1946

Career position - War service with the Royal Australian Army Medical Corps in Tobruk, Palestine and Asia

1969

Award - Knight Bachelor (Kt cr)

1972 -

Award - Honorary Fellow of the Indian Association of Surgeons

1972 - 1973

Career position - President of the Ex-POW Association

1976

Award - Australian of the Year award received

1980 -

Career position - Foundation member of the International Society of Diseases of the Oesophagus

1980 - 1981

Career position - President of the Anti-Cancer Council of Victoria

1981 -

Award - Foundation Fellow of the International Medical Sciences Academy

1982 -

Career position - Patron of the Anti-Cancer Council of Victoria

1985 -

Award - Honorary Fellow of the College of Surgery, Sri Lanka

1985 -

Award - Sir Edward Dunlop Medical Research Foundation founded

1986 - 1987

Career position - President of the Ex-POW Association

1987

Award - Companion of the Order of Australia (AC)

1988

Award - St John Jerusalem Cross Merit received

1990

Award - Valiant Freedom Award received

1991 -

Award - Fellow of the Imperial College, London

Published resources

Books

• Murray, James, Lifework: Heroes of Australian Health, Focus Publishing for [Medical Benefits Fund of Australia Ltd], Edgecliff, NSW, 1997, 160 pp. Details

Online Resources

• National Library of Australia, 'Dunlop, E E', Trove, National Library of Australia and the Australian National Maritime Museum Darling Harbour, 2009, http://nla.gov.au/nla.party-585175. Details