Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

GILMORE Vytautas ‘Vic’ MB BS

1934 –

Vytautas ‘Vic’ Giruckas was born in Lithuania on the 15th August 1934. He changed his surname to Gilmore when he was a medical undergraduate. He was the only child of Bronius and Regina Giruckas. His father had been in the Lithuanian Army and Police Force. The family migrated to Australia, in 1949, and settled in Adelaide. Gilmore was educated at Woodville High School and Christian Brothers College (CBC), where he matriculated with honours and gained a scholarship to study at university. During his time at CBC he joined the Army Cadets.  He decided to study medicine at the University of Adelaide, in 1955, although he was not really keen about this, so he undertook a ‘gap’ year prior to commencing his studies. He married Margaret Lewis, his school sweetheart, in 1958, and they were to have three children. He changed his name to Gilmore to simplify its pronunciation when he was at university.  He was offered a place in the RAN undergraduate scheme, as a sub-lieutenant, in his fifth year of medicine, in 1960.  This assisted him financially, especially as he now had a son, and also satisfied his desire to join the military.  

Gilmore began his obligatory return of service in the RAN after he completed his resident year at the RAH and at TQEH.  He was allotted to his first ship at sea in 1964, as MO, in a WW2 small River Class Frigate, HMAS Gascoyne. Gilmore reflects that it was quite an introduction to life and work at sea. He had other shore and sea appointments. This was followed by a posting as MO on HMAS Albatross, in 1965, where he gained experience in flying and aviation medicine. Later, at the end of 1965, he was posted as MO to the aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne replacing the incumbent Surgeon Lieutenant Tony Swain. Gilmore was the only medical practitioner for all the ships company including the air crew. The Fleet Medical Officer (FMO) on board had other duties and assisted if asked. Prior to his posting on the Melbourne, he had undertaken an anaesthetics course at the Royal Prince Alfred hospital, Sydney, which became very useful for performing surgical procedures on the ship. During the FESR deployments, in May and June 1966, HMAS Melbourne escorted HMAS Sydney, carrying Australian troops and equipment, to Vietnam. Prior to meeting the Sydney, the Melbourne on route to the FESR was asked for assistance for an obstructed labour by the MO at HMAS Tarangau, RAN Naval Base on Manus Island. The FMO, Surgeon Commander Horton, and Gilmore were flown by helicopter to the island and between them performed a successful caesarean section.

The Melbourne, on arrival at Vung Tau, stayed outside the harbour and waited to escort the Sydney back to safe waters. During the deployment the Melbourne used her aircraft for patrol and defence purposes.  One of her Venom aircraft failed to land on the flight deck and crashed into the sea.  The pilot ejected and was picked up from the sea by a rescue helicopter, but the observer went down with the plane and his body was never recovered. During his time in the Melbourne Gilmore had several flights in various aircraft from the Melbourne with some landing on other ships including the large aircraft carriers, USS Enterprise and Yorktown. Later in his RAN Service, when he was FMO based in HMAS Stalwart, in 1985, he was involved in a massive Hydrogen Sulphate gas incident which affected many of the sailors – three died from it and many more were permanently affected by it and had to be discharged from the Navy.  During this time he had many ‘on shore’ and ‘at sea’ postings including commanding the Flinders Naval Hospital and Balmoral Naval Hospital. His last posting was in the Navy Office, Canberra as Director Medical Services – Navy. Gilmore continued a RAN career until his retirement from the Navy in 1990, as Surgeon Captain.  He was placed on the reserve of officers list and, in 1994, on to the retired list after thirty years of service.  He was issued the; Australian Active Service Medal 1945-1975 (Clasp Vietnam), Vietnam Logistic Support Medal, Australian Defence Medal, Defence Force Service Medal and Australian Logistic Support Force – Decoration.

Gilmore spent the rest of his medical career as a general practitioner until the age of eighty years when he fully retired to Encounter Bay, South Australia where he lives with his wife Krystyna. His eldest son Stephen followed in his father’s footsteps and joined the RAN at the age of sixteen.  He is still serving in the RAN and has achieved the rank of Rear Admiral. His youngest son David is married and lives in Adelaide, and his daughter Helen lives in Goolwa. Vic Gilmore now has three grandchildren who are grown and pursuing their own careers.

Source

Blood, Sweat and Fears II: Medical Practitioners of South Australia on Active Service After World War 2 to Vietnam 1945-197.

Summers, Swain, Jelly, Verco

Uploaded by Annette Summers AO RFD