Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

CHERRY Alan Percival MB BS

1917-1958

Alan Percival Cherry was born on 17th May 1917 in North Adelaide, SA. He was the son of Percival Thomas Spower Cherry, a medical practitioner, and Aileen Standish Cherry, nee Moyers. Cherry had two brothers Edward, who served in WW2, John and a sister Aileen, all three of whom were medical practitioners. He was educated at St Peter’s College and studied medicine at the University of Adelaide, graduating MB BS in 1941. He undertook his residency at the RAH.

Cherry had served for years with 10 Bn, in the CMF, before WW2 and was a lieutenant when he enlisted in the AAMC, at Wayville, on 8th December 1941. He gave his next of kin as Dr PTS Cherry but later changed it to Jocelyn Cherry after his marriage on 18th April 1942. Cherry commenced full-time duty, on 1st May 1942, and posted as RMO to 3rd Motor Regiment. After his appointment to 18th Garrison Bn, on 8th June 1942, he was transferred to the 2/AIF on 13th July 1942.  Deployed to PNG on 8th December 1942, he served there until 6th February 1944. He was posted to 6 Light FdAmb on 19th September 1942, and then to 2/9th AGH on 3rd December 1942. Still in PNG, Cherry was posted as RMO to 2/5th FdRegt on 18th April 1943, eventually embarking on the Stephen C. Porter from Port Moresby on 29th January 1944, for Australia.  He disembarked in Brisbane on 6th February 1944 and was evacuated to 105 AGH, in Adelaide, with upper respiratory problems on 3rd March 1944, and was subsequently discharged to the SA L of C. He re-joined 2/5th Fd Regt, on 9th April 1945, and re-allotted to 2/16th Bn on 5th May 1945.  According to his records, he serves in Balikpapan, Borneo, from where he embarked for Sydney on 4th January 1946. He was granted ninety days leave for refresher training before discharge. He was discharged on 1st May 1946 and placed on the Reserve of Officers. 

Cherry and his brother Edward both joined their father’s practice in Alberton after the war. Cherry was living in Largs Bay. Alan Percival Cherry was killed when he stopped to provide care at a motor vehicle accident on 18th September 1958. His death became well known in the legal field attributing liability to the individual who had caused the accident for the consequences of that accident including the accidental death of one who stopped to render aid. His widow Jocelyn later married John Pedler who had been RMO with 2/6Cav Regt during World War 2. His son, David, a champion golfer, followed his father and grandfather with a distinguished career in medicine; his particular interest was in pain management.

Source

**Blood, Sweat and Fears III: Medical Practitioners South Australia, who Served in World War 2. (**Minor edits requested by family)

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

Uploaded by Annette Summers AO RFD