P005967 revised AU-VU:EOAS Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation

All key entry types: Awards; Concepts; Corporate Bodies (Organisations); Cultural Artefacts; People; etc

These key entries are listed separately below with other indexes and lists.

 English AACR2 Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules Person created 2017-12-19 human Helen Cohn updated 2024-04-25 human https://www.eoas.info/biogs/P005967b.htm person Downes Rupert Major CMG AACR2 10 February 1885 5 March 1945 Place of Birth Mitcham, Victoria, Australia Place of Death Cairns, Queensland, Australia Army officer Surgeon Rupert Downes was a surgeon best known for his significant and innovative contributions to the medical services of the Australian Army from 1914 to 1945. In the Middle East during WWI, he pursued rigorous programs to secure an adequate supply of potable water; to combat the incidence of epidemic diseases; and to overcome the lack of logistic support for the evacuation of the wounded. On becoming Director General of Medical Services for the Australian Army in 1934, Downes was primarily concerned with increasing the recruitment of medical practitioners; creating stockpiles of drugs and medical equipment against the advent of another world war, and the construction of major military hospitals in the State capitals. In his civilian career Downes established a reputation as one of Melbourne's leading paediatric surgeons. He was honorary consulting surgeon at several of Melbourne's leading hospitals. Downes devoted much time to both the Australian Red Cross and the St John Ambulance Brigade, for both of which he served as President or Chairman of the national committees. Downes published on medical aspects of the Sinai and Palestine campaign of WWI and was involved in the publication of the medical volumes of the official history of WWII. 1907 1907 Education - MB ChB, University of Melbourne 1908 1908 Career position - Resident Medical Officer Melbourne Hospital 1908 1945 Military service - Served with the Australian Army Medical Corps 1909 Career position - In general practice, Malvern, Victoria 1911 1911 Education - MD, University of Melbourne 1912 1912 Education - MS, University of Melbourne 1916 1917 Military service - Assistant Director of Medical Services, ANZAC Mounted Division 1916 1918 Military service - Assistant Director of Medical Services, Australian Imperial Forces, Egypt 1917 1918 Military service - Deputy Director of Medical Services, Desert Mounted Corps 1918 1918 Award - Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) 1927 1927 Career position - Founding Fellow, Royal Australasian College of Surgeons 1927 1931 Career position - Honorary Surgeon to the Governor General 1930 1930 Award - Commander of the Venerable Order of Saint John of Jerusalem (CStJ) 1934 1940 Career position - Director General of Medical Services, Australian Army 1935 1935 Career position - President, Victorian Branch, British Medical Association 1937 1937 Award - Knight of Grace of the Venerable Order of Saint John of Jerusalem (KStJ) 1937 1938 Career position - Chairman, Victorian Civil Ambulance Service 1940 1942 Career position - Inspector General of Medical Services, Australian Army 1942 1944 Military service - Director of Medical Services, Second Army Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) (1927 - )

Fellow 1927

 Australian Army (1903 - )

Inspector (later Director) General of Medical Services 1934 - 1942

Wikidata

 Downes, Rupert (18850210-19450305)

Trove

 'Downes, Rupert Major', in Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation, Centre for Transformative Innovation, Swinburne University of Technology Downes, Rupert Major Swinburne University of Technology, Centre for Transformative Innovation Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation Resource: B883 Second Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1939-1947 CA 2002, 2 Echelon, Army Headquarters; CA 46, Department of Defence [III], Central Office B883 Second Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1939-1947 National Archives of Australia, RecordSearch Resource: B2455 First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920 CA 2001 Australian Imperial Force, Base Records Office B2455 First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920 National Archives of Australia, RecordSearch Book: Surgeon and General: a life of Major-General Rupert Downes 1885 - 1945 Howie-Willis, Ian Surgeon and General: a life of Major-General Rupert Downes 1885 - 1945 Loftus, N.S.W. Australian Military History Publications 2008 Journal Article: The house that Jack built: DGMS Rupert Downes and Australian Army medical preparations for World War II McLeod, Jan The house that Jack built: DGMS Rupert Downes and Australian Army medical preparations for World War II 2017 Health and History 19 1 80-101 Book Section: Downes, Rupert Major (1885 - 1845), surgeon and soldier Hill, A. J. Downes, Rupert Major (1885 - 1845), surgeon and soldier Melbourne Melbourne University Press 1981 Australian dictionary of biography, volume 8: 1891 - 1939 Cl-Gib Bede Nairn and Geoffrey Serle 332-4