Name: John Ellis Gillespie (known as Ellis)
Qualifications:
MBBS – University of Melbourne (1918)
DA – University of Melbourne (1949)
Date of Birth: 14 November 1893
Date of Death: 1970
John Ellis Gillespie was born in 1893 in Koroit, Victoria. Although commencing study at the University of Melbourne in 1912, Gillespie deferred in order to serve in World War I. His medical knowledge aided the Australian Imperial Force in both World War I and World War II. His contributions to anaesthetics branch out beyond his military service. Gillespie was the first President of the Victorian Australian Society of Anaesthetists in 1949 and a member of the interim board of the Faculty of Anaesthetists, Royal Australian College of Surgeons. He would become a foundation Fellow of the latter in 1952. To memorialize the work of Gillespie, ANZCA has dedicated a lecture series in his name running since 1973.
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John Ellis Gillespie was born in Koroit, Victoria in 1893. In regard to his early education, Gillespie attended Caulfield Grammar School and Scotch College, Melbourne for his primary and secondary education respectively. He commenced medical studies at Melbourne University in 1912 deferring his studies to serve in World War I.
During his active duty, Gillespie was a Private in the 3rd Light Horse Field Ambulance division. He was transferred from Gallipoli to Alexandria, Heliopolis, and Serapeum. He returned to Australia in the middle of May, 1916 to continue his medical studies. He graduated with his MBBS in 1918 from the University of Melbourne. He would later return to the University of Melbourne post-World War II to complete his Diploma of Anaesthetics in 1949.
After completing his medical degree, Gillespie worked at the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne as a clinical assistant and O.P. physician. He also worked at the 115 Military Hospital in Heidelberg during World War II.
In 1940, Gillespie enlisted into the Australian Military Forces to serve in World War II. He rose from the rank of Major to Colonel serving in various theatres of war until 1946. These included areas of the Middle East and New Guinea. He received recognition for his service in the 2/5 Field Ambulance division in the Middle East and in the 2/3 Aust.CCS Division in the South-West Pacific.
On returning to Australia, Gillespie became the first President of the newly formed Victorian Branch of the ASA in 1949 until 1951. He was present at the meeting of RACS and ASA representatives working to establish the Faculty of Anaesthetists in May 1950. Gillespie also became a member of the interim board of FARACS that held its first meeting in January 1951. His contribution to the Faculty of Anaesthetists was awarded with a foundation Fellowship in 1952. Gillespie died in October 1970 in Armadale, Victoria. In memoriam, ANZCA has dedicated a lecture series titled the Ellis Gillespie Lecture that commenced in 1973.
REFERENCES
[i] John Ellis Gillespie, ‘Faculty of Anaesthetists Royal Australasian College of Surgeons’, Form, 1952, Geoffrey Kaye Museum of Anaesthetic History: VKGM 6903.39, p. 1; John Ellis Gillespie, ‘Exordium’, Admission Form, 1952, Geoffrey Kaye Museum of Anaesthetic History: VKGM 6903.38; Australian Military Forces, ‘Attestation Form For Special Forces Raised for Service in Australia or Abroad; Gillespie, John Ellis’, National Archives of Australia: Canberra, 1939, Series No. B883: VX15188.[ii] Gillespie, ‘Faculty of Anaesthetists Royal Australasian College of Surgeons’, Form, p. 1.[iii]Australian Military Forces, ‘Australian Imperial Forces Attestation Paper of Persons Enlisted for Service Abroad; Gillespie, John Ellis’, Form, National Archives of Australia: Canberra, 1914, Series No. B2455: GILLESPIE J E.[iv] All military information concerning World War I has been sourced from his official Australian Military Forces record; Ibid.[v] Gillespie, ‘Exordium’.[vi] Ibid.[vii] Ellis Gillespie, ‘Faculty of Anaesthetists Royal Australasian College of Surgeons’, Form, p. 2.[viii] All military information concerning World War I has been sourced from his official Australian Military Forces record; Australian Military Forces, ‘Attestation Form For Special Forces Raised for Service in Australia or Abroad; Gillespie, John Ellis’, 1939, Series No. B883: VX15188.[ix] Ellis Gillespie, ‘Faculty of Anaesthetists Royal Australasian College of Surgeons’, Form, p. 3.[x] Faculty of Anaesthetists, ‘Royal Australasian College of Surgeons’, British Journal of Anaesthesia, 25, no. 1 (1953): 87, ANZCA Archives, Series 11.[xi] Ibid.[xi] Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists, ‘ANZCA Timeline’, 2015, Online: http://www.anzca.edu.au/about-anzca/history-and-heritage/a-brief-anzca-timeline.html.
IMAGES
1. John Ellis Gillespie, ‘Exordium’, Application Form, 1952, Geoffrey Kaye Museum of Anaesthetic History: VKGM 6903.20.