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

Alan Dunstan Lamphee was born in Adelaide on 3rd January 1899. He was the son of Phillip Lamphee, an accountant, and Clara, nee Dunstan and had two sisters. He was educated at St Peter’s College. He had four years of Cadet Service and served in the citizens forces in the 22nd Signallers prior to enlisting. Lamphee was accepted as a medical student at the University of Adelaide but before commencing his medical studies he enlisted in the AIF in 1917. 

Lamphee enlisted on 10th November 1917 with his parent’s approval. He was living on Magill Road, Magill, South Australia. He was described as 18 years and 10 months old, 5ft 5ins tall and weighed 130lbs with a fresh complexion, hazel eyes and fair hair.  Lamphee joined the AAMC reinforcements as a private soldier on 4th February 1918 and embarked on the Gaika in Adelaide on 6th August 1918. He disembarked in England on 13th October 1918 and was posted to an AAMC Training Depot. He served in 2 Clearing Hospital and Sanitary Section in Hurdcott Camp, near Fovant village, Salisbury England. He embarked on the Karagola for return to Australia on 30th April 1919. He disembarked in 4MD on 9th June1919 and discharged on 24th June 1919. He was issued with the British War Medal. 

Lamphee re-commenced his medical studies in 1920 at the University of Adelaide and graduated in 1924. At school he had formed a lasting relationship with Howard Florey.  He spent a year as a resident medical officer at the Adelaide Hospital, followed by further postgraduate studies in England before he returned to Australia and entered General Practice in Walkerville. He married Inez Robin, the youngest daughter of Mr and Mrs Hedley Robin of Kumara, South Malvern, South Australia, on 29th May 1929 at St Peter’s College Chapel. During WW2 he served again in the AAMC but this time as a doctor and reached the rank of lieutenant colonel. Eventually he took up full-time anaesthetic practice. He was considered to be an excellent anaesthetist especially in the days of ether anaesthetics. He was, however, quick to take up new techniques as they were developed. He was appointed an honorary anaesthetist at the Royal Adelaide Hospital and a lecturer of the University of Adelaide.  He was a foundation member and State Vice President of the Society of Anaesthetists and was elected a Fellow of the Faculty of Anaesthetists of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons when it was formed in 1952. He was President of the South Australian Branch of the BMA 1948-1949 and elected a Fellow of the Association in 1970. He was a voluntary supporter of the Walkerville Boys Home amongst other philanthropic work. Alan Dunstan Lamphee died on 9th November 1981 and was survived by his two daughters and son.

Sources:

Escourt Hughes J, ‘Obituary, Dr Alan Lamphee” Medical Journal of Australia 10th July1982

National Archives

http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/NameSearch/Interface/ItemDetail.aspx?Barcode=7376334

Biographical Index of South Australia 1836-1885

FIFTY YEARS. The Australian Society of Anaesthetists 1934-1984 by Gwen Wilson.

Photo: Adelaide University Graduates 1924,

Addition information to biography from

Blood, Sweat and Fears III: Medical Practitioners South Australia, who Served in World War 2. 

Swain, Jelly, Verco, Summers. Open Books Howden, Adelaide 2019. 

Lamphee enlisted in the 2/AIF, on 1st November 1940, at the rank of captain. He named his wife, Inez as his next of kin and they were living in Smith Street Walkerville at the time. He was promoted to major on the same day as his enlistment and appointed 9 AGH and transferred to the AIF.  He remained at 9 AGH until he embarked for the Middle East, on the Mauretania, from Melbourne, on 5th February 1941. He served in 2 AGH until June 1941 and then was posted back to 9 AGH until he returned to Australia on 19th March 1942. Lamphee was promoted to lieutenant colonel on 22nd June 1942 and transferred to 116 AGH. He had several postings within Australia and in September went to Townsville for embarkation to Papua New Guinea; however, it appears he remained in Australia at this time. By February 1944 he was OC Medical Division 116 AGH. He was detached to 102 AGH on 6th February 1945 and embarked for Morotai on the 4th May 1945, where he was sent for service in British North Borneo. He returned to Australia on the Wanganella on the 10th November 1945. He was discharged on 20th December 1945 and transferred to the Reserve of Officer.

Uploaded by Annette Summers AO RFD

South Australia's Foundation Fellows (www.anzca.edu.au): Page 106ff.

Son of Phillip LAMPHEE and Clara nee DUNSTAN

Enlisted 10 November 1917 with parents approval

Served in England

Returned to Australia 30 April 1918 per 'Karoola'

Discharged 24 June 1919

Married Inez ROBIN 29 May 1929 at St. Peter's College Chapel.

Served in WWII  SX10686

Foundation member and State Vice President of the Australian Society of Anaesthetists .

Fellow of the Faculty of Anaesthetists of the Royal Australian College of Surgeons in 1952 when it was formed.

President of the South Australian Branch of the BMA 1948-1949

Elected Fellow of the BMA in 1970

Voluntary supporter of the Walkerville Boys Home

Did much Philanthropic work.

Survived by two daughters and a son