Robert Fowler (surgeon, soldier)
Australian surgeon and soldier (1888–1965)
Robert Fowler
Born (1888-03-05 ) 5 March 1888Died 8 May 1965(1965-05-08) (aged 77) Education Caulfield Grammar School Alma mater University of Melbourne Occupation(s) surgeon and gynaecologist Years active 1911–1955 Known for pioneer of (Australian) medical statistics, especially known for establishing the association between tobacco smoking and lung cancer
Robert Fowler (5 March 1888 – 8 May 1965) was an Australian surgeon and soldier.
Family
The son, and eldest of the four children of the surgeon Walter Fowler (1857-1917),[ 1] and Alice Maud Fowler (1862-1946), née Wacher,[ 2] Robert Fowler was born at East Smithfield , London, England on 5 March 1888.
He married Elsie Walsh (1891-1975), in Egypt, on 12 January 1915.[ 3] [ 4] [ 5]
Education
Having won a scholarship to do so, he attended Caulfield Grammar School for three years: 1900–1902.[ 6] [ 7] [ 8] [ 9] [ 10] [ 11]
Military service
He served in World War I with the Australian Mounted Division ,[ 12] [ 13] obtaining the rank of Colonel.[ 14]
Medical practitioner
In civilian life he practiced at The Alfred Hospital , Melbourne ;[ 15] represented the Victoria Branch of the British Medical Association ;[ 16] was an advocate of the 'Airway Ambulance' (forerunner to the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia );[ 17] [ 18] served on the staff of the Governor-General Sir Isaac Isaacs ;[ 14] researched the use of the Radium Ray for cancer treatment;[ 19] and pioneered the linkage between smoking and lung cancer.[ 20] [ 21]
Death
He died, in Toorak, Melbourne, on 8 May 1965.[ 22] [ 23] [ 24]
See also
Notes
^ Death of Dr. Walter Fowler, The Bendigonian , (Thursday, 2 August 1917), p.28.
^ Deaths: Fowler, The Argus , (Monday, 11 February 1946), p.2.
^ Our Bendigo Letter, The Bendigonian , (Tuesday, 6 October 1914), p.25.
^ Deaths: Fowler, The Age , (Monday, 25 August 1975), p.24.
^ Elsie Fowler, at Find a Grave .
^ Our Country Service: Echuca, The Bendigo Advertiser , (Wednesday, 10 January 1900), p.3.
^ School Speech Days: Caulfield Grammar, The Age , (Wednesday, 26 December 1900), p.3.
^ School Speech Days: Caulfield Grammar, The Age , (Monday, 23 December 1901), p.6.
^ The School Vacation: Breaking Up Celebrations: Caulfield Grammar School, The Age , (Monday, 22 December 1902), p.6.
^ Matriculation: December Examination: Melbourne Candidates, The Australasian , (Saturday, 10 January 1903), p.36.
^ Webber (1981), p.292.
^ (Photograph: H02522), collection of the Australian War Memorial .
^ "THE DANGER OF MALARIA" . The Inverell Times (NSW), p. 5 . 12 August 1919. Retrieved 17 September 2018 .
^ a b "OBITUARY" . Williamstown Chronicle (Vic.), p. 2 . 3 December 1932. Retrieved 17 September 2018 .
^ "ABOUT PEOPLE" . The Age (Melbourne, Vic.) p. 7 . Fairfax. 5 May 1921. Retrieved 17 September 2018 .
^ "PUBLIC HEALTH" . The Age (Melbourne, Vic.), p. 11 . Fairfax. 30 January 1925. Retrieved 17 September 2018 .
^ "MEDICAL CONGRESS" . The Labor Daily (Sydney, NSW), p. 6 . 5 September 1929. Retrieved 17 September 2018 .
^ Aberdeen Journal . No. 23300. Aberdeen, Scotland. 5 September 1929. p. 6.
^ "RADIUM RAY NEW CANCER" . Tweed Daily (Murwillumbah, NSW), p. 6 . 6 December 1932. Retrieved 17 September 2018 .
^ "Smoking And Lung Cancer "Increasing" " . The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA), p. 3 . 29 September 1954. Retrieved 18 September 2018 .
^ "Untitled" . The Australian Women's Weekly, p. 20 . 21 September 1955. Retrieved 18 September 2018 .
^ Deaths: Fowler, The Age , (Wednesday, 12 May 1965), p.25.
^ Obituary: Eminent Surgeon, The Age , (Wednesday, 12 May 1965), p.5.
^ Robert Fowler, at Find a Grave".
References
Webber, Horace (1981). Years May Pass On... Caulfield Grammar School, 1881–1981 . Centenary Committee, Caulfield Grammar School, (East St Kilda). ISBN 0-9594242-0-2 .
Combined World War One and World War Two Service Record: Robert Fowler (WWI: no service number; WWII: VX111272), National Archives of Australia .
Second World War Nominal Roll: Colonel Robert Fowler (VX111272/V146682), Department of Veterans' Affairs .
Howie-Wills, "Malariology in Australia between the First and Second World Wars (Part 2 of ‘Pioneers of Australian Military Malariology’)", Journal of Military and Veterans’ Health , Vol.24, No.2, (April 2016), pp.28-39.
External links