Rupert Downes

Rupert Downes was born on 10 February 1885 in Mitcham, South Australia, Australia. He was the son of Major Francis Downes, a British Army officer who served in the Crimean War, and Helen Maria Chamberlin. He attended Melbourne Church of England Grammar School and then studied medicine at the University of Melbourne, graduating with his medical degrees in 1907 and a Doctor of Medicine degree in 1911. He joined the Australian Army Medical Corps in 1912 and served as a medical officer in World War I, first at Gallipoli and then on the Western Front. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for his bravery at the Battle of Messines in 1917. He also became a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George and a Commander of the Order of the British Empire for his service. He was appointed Assistant Director of Medical Services (ADMS) of the newly formed Anzac Mounted Division in 1916, which he combined with the post of ADMS AIF Egypt. In 1917, he became Deputy Director of Medical Services (DDMS) of the Desert Mounted Corps. He introduced several innovations in medical care and evacuation of wounded soldiers, such as sand sledges, mobile surgical units and blood transfusions. After the war, he wrote articles on medical aspects of the Sinai and Palestine campaign, and the section on the campaign for the Official History of Australia in the War of 1914–1918 . Returning to Australia, Downes became an honorary consulting surgeon at various hospitals in Adelaide and Melbourne. He also became a fellow of the College of Surgeons of Australasia in 1927, and president of the Victorian branch of the British Medical Association in 1935. He lectured on medical ethics at the University of Melbourne, writing the course textbook. He was also Victorian state commissioner of the St John Ambulance Brigade, which he led for 25 years, and president of the St John Ambulance Association for eight years. In 1934 Downes became Director General of Medical Services, the Australian Army's most senior medical officer, with the rank of major general. He oversaw the construction of major military hospitals in the capital cities. In 1944 he accepted a commission to edit the medical series volumes of the Official History of Australia in the War of 1939–1945 but he was killed in a plane crash near Cairns on 5 March 1945, before he could begin the work. He was buried at St Andrew's Cathedral, Sydney. He was widely respected for his leadership, vision and passion for medicine and history¹.