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DIBDEN Frederick Andrew MB BS FCRA DTR

1917-1988

Frederick Samuel Dibden was born, in Sydney, on 19th September 1917. He was the son of Frederick Samuel Dibden, a printer's clerk, and Anne Dibden, nee Andrews. Dibden was educated at Prince Alfred College and served in the College’s Cadet Unit.   He won a government bursary to study medicine at the University of Adelaide, graduating MB BS in 1941; he was awarded the Elder Prize in first year.  He completed his resident year as an RMO at the RAH, in 1941. His brother William Andrew Dibden also was a medical graduate and leading Psychiatrist. Frederick Dibden married Ruth Geraldine Dower on 21st February 1942. They had a son in 1943.

Dibden enlisted as a captain in the AAMC on the 2nd January 1942, at Wayville, and was immediately called up for full-time duty. He initially gave his mother of St Georges, as his next of kin and after his marriage changed it to his wife Ruth, who was living in Pembroke Street, Kensington Park, SA at that time. Following a short period at Woodside, SA, he was posted to 7 MD on 25th February 1942. He transferred to the AIF, on 14th August 1942, while serving in the Camp Hospital at Larrimah, NT. He served in the Northern Territory in the prescribed operational area north of parallel 14.5 degrees south latitude, from 9th May 1942 until 30th May 1943. Dibden was posted to 2/7th FdAmb from 19th November 1942 until 17th January 1943 and had several attachments to other units in the Northern Territory. He was admitted to 2/2nd AGH, on 8th June 1943, with dengue fever and other medical conditions. Removed from the sick list on 12th December 1943 he was posted, as RMO, to 2/4th Inf Bn on 21st February 1944. Dibden injured his right knee in July 1944 and was admitted to 104 CCS, followed by a posting to 2/6th AGH on 11th August 1944. He had tonsillitis and another period in hospital with throat infections in 2/2nd AGH in April 1945. He was taken to 102 AGH, on 1st April 1945, and eventually was evacuated to 105 Military Hospital, Daws Road, Adelaide and Kapara convalescent home (80 Mosely St, Glenelg, SA) for rehabilitation. Dibden was detached to 12 AGH and then attached to LofC 4 MD on 15th Aug 1945. He had 90 days medical refresher training leave, from 1st March 1946 and his appointment was terminated on 7th June 1946 and he was transferred to the Reserve of Officers. He eventually retired from the Army on 30th October 1972.

Dibden returned to the RAH after the war, and joined the Anti-Cancer Campaign Committee of the University of Adelaide. He gained the Diploma of Radiation Therapy in Melbourne, in 1954, and was appointed as assistant Director of Radiotherapy, at the RAH, in 1955. He was made the Thomas Baker Memorial Fellow in 1955.  He was an assistant radiotherapist, at the RAH, from 1956 to 1964 and an honorary radiotherapist from 1965 to 1970. He was also a visiting radiotherapist at the QEH, ACH and a visiting specialist at the RGH. He was elected a Fellow of the College of Radiologists in 1964. He wrote many papers, especially with respect to radiotherapy and brain tumours. Frederick Andrew Dibden died on 22nd June 1988 and is interred at Centennial Park Cemetery, SA.

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