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),Death of Dr. Walter Fowler, The Bendigonian, (Thursday, 2 August 1917), p.28. and Alice Maud Fowler (1862-1946), née Wacher,Deaths: Fowler, The Argus, (Monday, 11 February 1946), p.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.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.
Education Having won a scholarship to do so, he attended Caulfield Grammar School for three years: 1900–1902.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.
Military service He served in World War I with the Australian Mounted Division,(Photograph: H02522), collection of the Australian War Memorial. obtaining the rank of Colonel.
Medical practitioner In civilian life he practiced at The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne; represented the Victoria Branch of the British Medical Association; was an advocate of the 'Airway Ambulance' (forerunner to the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia); served on the staff of the Governor-General Sir Isaac Isaacs; researched the use of the Radium Ray for cancer treatment; and pioneered the work of establishing the linkage between smoking and lung cancer.
Death He died, in Toorak, Melbourne, on 8 May 1965.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.
See also List of Caulfield Grammar School people
Notes
References
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 Australian Dictionary of Biography