Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

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

John Corbin was born in Adelaide on 1st June 1878, the third son of Dr Thomas W Corbin an Adelaide general practitioner. He was educated at the Queen’s School and St Peter’s College. After leaving school he spent some time working on the West Australian goldfields. Through the generosity of an uncle he sailed to England and entered St Bartholomew’s Hospital Medical School. There he played Rugby and represented the Hospital XV although he had never played previously. He graduated MRCS (England) and LRCP (London).  He returned to Adelaide in 1903 to join his father in practice in King William St where Muirden College is now situated.  When his father retired in 1904 he and his brother, Cecil, who had returned from Fremantle, continued at the same practice. Prior to the outbreak of WW1, Corbin was a captain in the AAMC 1905-1908 and later, on the Reserve of Officers of the AAMC.

He joined in the AIF on 23rd October 1914 and was posted to 1 ASH at the rank of major. He was 6ft, and weighed 14st. His wife, Margaret Watt, nee Ogilvie of Brougham Place, North Adelaide was named as his next of kin. He departed Melbourne on the Kyarra and arrived in Egypt on 23rd January 1915 with 4 other Hospitals. He spent 2 weeks in 1 AGH with broncho-pneumonia until 28th February.  The 1 ASH was divided leaving himself, TG Wilson and F Le Messurier at Maadi. In early March his group went to Mudros harbour and were joined by the rest of the 1 ASH on the 24th March 1915.  Then on the 26th March he transferred to the 1 ACCS in the hope of getting closer to the front. This unit boarded on the 18th April and left Mudros on the evening of 24th April 1915.  At 0530 the following morning he wrote, I could see the cliffs and could recognise the difficulties, of the landing.  Corbin landed with the 1 ACCS. He records that during the first 4 days 3,300 wounded passed through our hands. Corbin gave a full account of his experience of the Gallipoli invasion in the Medical Journal of Australia in 1916.  He was promoted Major on 27th July 1915 and in August was Mentioned in Despatches by General Sir Ian Hamilton. He developed a pyrexia, transferred to Egypt, and invalided to Australia, arriving 17th October 1915. After being declared fit again for active service Corbin re-enlisted on 17th March 1916 as lieutenant colonel in the 3 ACCS. He returned to France in October 1916 in Command of the 3 ACCS. He transferred to England for duty at AIF HQ in July 1917. He was struck off strength in August 1917 and returned to Australia. His appointment was terminated 4th October 1917. He was again Mentioned in Despatches by Sir Douglas Haig gazetted in May 1917. He was issued with the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal with Oak Leaves. Corbin wrote extensive diaries of his military experiences.

Corbin was appointed an honorary assistant surgeon on his return to Australia, then honorary surgeon at the Adelaide Hospital in 1925. He was appointed surgical tutor and subsequently lecturer in Clinical Surgery at the University of Adelaide. Corbin also bought the practice and home of Dr M Jay at North Adelaide. He was surgeon at the Repatriation Hospital and was always anxious to do all he could for the deserving soldiers. He was prominent in the South Australian Branch of the BMA and President in 1928.  He involved himself locally and interstate in study and reports to improve clinical care. He was also elected to positions with the Massage Association of SA and the Adelaide Medical Students Society. His hobbies and interest encompassed a flutter on the horses, golf, fishing and shooting. He was a great raconteur and even a repeated story was never dull.  John Corbin died on 1st February 1930 aged 51 years at his home in North Adelaide and is buried in Mitcham Cemetery. He was survived by his wife Margaret, a son John, a medical student, and two daughters, Betty and Suzanne.