Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

HONE Garton Maxwell MB BS

1901-1991

Garton (Gar) Maxwell Hone was born, on 21st February 1901, in Adelaide. His parents were Frank Sandland Hone CMG and Lucy Hone, nee Henderson. His father, a medical practitioner, who specialised in cancer treatment, was also a University of Adelaide lecturer. Hone's father was a noted tennis player and the SA Lawn Tennis Association doubles champion in 1891, a talent he passed on to his son who played in a number of Australian Opens and once at Wimbledon.  Hone’s older brother, Frank was a medical practitioner.   A younger brother, Sir Brian Hone, a teacher and Rhodes Scholar, was at one-time headmaster of Melbourne Church of England Grammar School, Victoria and eventually Deputy Chancellor of Monash University and also played first-class cricket. Hone, was educated at Prince Alfred College and studied medicine at the University of Adelaide, graduating MB BS in 1924. He also played cricket and played one Sheffield Shield game. He earned half blues at the University of Adelaide in tennis, football and cricket. He had two younger sisters one of whom married Dr Richard Pellew. Hone married Alison Romanis Hart, on 17th June 1926, at St Andrews Church, Strathalbyn, SA.  She was the daughter of the Reverend Walter Perry Hart and Elvire Rosalie, nee Marsh.  Hone was an Honorary Clinical Assistant at the ACH and an Honorary Clinical Assistant Anaesthetist at the RAH.

Hone enlisted in the AAMC Reserve of Officers with the rank of captain on 28th April 1939 and, transferred to the 2/AIF on 1st December 1940.  He was called up for full-time duty on 29th December 1940. He was posted to 2/1st AGH, which was established at Gaza Ridge and receiving patients by May 1940.  Hone disembarked in Gaza on 23rd March 1941. The unit was the significant supplier of stores to other medical units and also ran an annexe for venereal disease casualties. The 2/1st AGH received most of the casualties from the Syrian campaign. By the end of 1940, it had 700 beds and eventually expanded to 1500 beds. Hone was detached for Special Duties from 9th January 1942 to 12th January. He was detached to 8 CCS on 27th June 1942. The 2/1st AGH returned to Australia as part of the “Stepsister” movement, and its role was taken over by 2/6th AGH.  He was posted to 118 AGH in 3 Aust Corps on 4th March 1943 and later to 125 AGH. Hone was promoted major and posted to 107 AGH on 28th July 1943. On 14th November 1943, he was posted to 40 FdAmb.  He was sent to LoC Northern Territory as a surgeon, on 4th March 1945. Hone had subsequent appointments to hospitals in Brisbane and Goulburn.  He returned to South Australia where he was discharged on 4th December 1945 and placed on the Reserve of Officers.

Hone was the inaugural President of the Sports Medicine Association of South Australia in 1961. Garton Maxwell Hone died, on 28th May 1991, in Myrtle Bank, South Australia He is interred at Centennial Park Cemetery.

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