Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

FORGAN Sydney Bayly MB BS DPM

1901- 1978

Sydney Bayly Forgan was born on 11th August 1901, in Crystal Brook, SA.  He was the son of James Forgan and Emma Louisa Stanton, nee Bayley. His parents were residents of Port Pirie for many years. Forgan was educated at Prince Alfred College and studied medicine at the University of Adelaide, where he graduated MB BS in 1926. He married Sydney Clare Levien, of Barmera SA, on 19th April 1927. She was the daughter of Harold Felix Levien and Amy Ethel, nee Herbert; they were well known in the Riverland area in SA and adjacent Victoria.  Her mother had died three years before their wedding. Forgan was, at the time, living in Peterborough, SA. They moved to   Norman Street, Port Pirie, SA, where he was in practice with Dr LG Tassie DSO, at the start of WW2. At this time, he had three sons, Anthony James, Malcolm Sydney and Peter John. His application to serve in the RAAF Medical Branch (February 1940) documented that he had undertaken general medical and surgical practice for 13 years and in Port Pirie, SA, for 12 years. He indicated that he had X-Ray experience, had been a captain in the AAMC reserve and that his interests were golf and yachting.

He was granted a commission on probation as a flight lieutenant from 13th March 1940, his appointment was confirmed on 12th December 1940; he was granted the temporary rank of squadron leader from 1st January 1941 and acting rank of wing commander while occupying a wing commander post with effect from 1st July 1944. His appointment was terminated on 3rd January 1946. During his service, he served at RAAF bases in Victoria, South Australia, NSW, and in Canada, near Ottawa, from 23rd January 1941 until 19th March 1941 and in Papua New Guinea from September to November 1942. He was the President of the Sydney Medical Board for the 18 months up to the 18th July 1945 and considered a very valuable officer in that role notwithstanding his reserved nature and strict formality in interaction with colleagues.

He was appointed a part-time psychiatrist, at the rank of squadron leader, in the RAAF Active reserve from 1st December 1947 until compulsory retirement from the active reserve in 1959. He left general practice in Pt Pirie, SA, for Adelaide early in 1947 to practise psychiatry. He obtained the DPM in Sydney in 1947. Sydney Bayly Forgan died on 22nd January 1978, in Adelaide. His wife, who died in 1987, and children survived him.

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