Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

HEASLIP William Gordon MB BS

1902-1961

William Gordon Heaslip was born, on 2nd August 1902, at Eurilpa, on the Eyre Peninsula, SA. He was the son of William Henry Heaslip and Anna Sweet, nee McDonald. His father was a farmer in the Carrieton area of South Australia. He was educated at Prince Alfred College and studied medicine at the University of Adelaide, graduating MB BS in 1929. While a medical student he was involved in a collision with a lorry while riding a motorcycle and, dragged 30 feet, escaping with a few abrasions. He was married to Barbara Kate Shorney, the daughter of Edward George Shorney, on 9th August 1929, at the Methodist Church, Malvern, SA. His wife also studied at the University of Adelaide, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts. Heaslip was also a candidate for the Ministry and appointed as the first missionary medical superintendent of the Methodist Hospital in Papua New Guinea.

Heaslip enlisted in the AAMC, at Wayville, on 23rd June 1941. He named his wife Barbara, living at 27 Park Road, Kensington Park, SA,  as his next of kin. He was called up for duty, to the Camp Hospital, with the rank of Captain and then was marched out to undertake a Pathology course, in Eastern Command. He returned to Fort Largs, on 20th August 1941, and was subsequently sent to Alice Springs, to 15 Field Hygiene Section, on 1st October 1941. He was attached to 10 CCS, on 24th April 1942, and then marched out to Darwin. Heaslip returned from Darwin, in August 1942, and posted to 119 AGH. Heaslip volunteered for the 2/AIF on 7th September 1942. He was transferred to108 AGH (later disbanded), on 5th February 1943, and promoted temporary major as a pathologist. He was transferred to 116 AGH, on 29th December 1943, and was allotted for duty with 2/14th AGH on 8th December 1944. He contracted furunculosis and was evacuated from Cairns to Sydney, in March 1945, and admitted to hospital. He damaged his right knee, in July 1945, and was admitted to hospital. He transferred to 2/5 AGH, at Morotai, Borneo, on 9th August 1945. He subsequently served with 1 Papua New Guinea recruit unit before being posted to 9 Prisoner of War Recovery Group. He returned from Morotai, on 28th October 1945, and was attached to 2/1 CCS. Heaslip was admitted to 105 Australian Military Hospital for haematemesis and malaria on 28th March 1946. He was discharged as medically unfit because of a duodenal ulcer and polycythaemia on 8th April 1946.

William Gordon Heaslip died, in Adelaide, on 27th October 1961. His wife, who survived him, wrote a book titled “Saints and strait jackets: an intimate view of life in an Australian psychiatric hospital / by Barbara Heaslip, an ex-patient”. She died in 1982.

Source

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

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

Uploaded by Annette Summers AO RFD