Col. Fred. T. Bowerbank,

Camp News, Volume 1, Issue 19, 19 April 1940, Page 2

Col. Fred. T. Bowerbank,

0.8. E., E.D., M.D., F.R.C.P. Edin., F.R.A.C.P., N.Z.M.C. I Honorary Physician to. I His Excellency the GovernorI General, Director-General of J Medical Services (Army and I Air Force). I ★

The outbreak of war found the medical services of the Army and Air Force in a state of preparedness and all that was necessary was to put the machine into motion. This was largely due to the preparations made by the Director-General of Medical Services, Colonel Fred. T. Bowerbank, 0.8. E., E.D., M.D., F.R.C.P. (Edin.), F.R.A.C.P., N.Z.M.C., who for a long time before had worked unceasingly so that his organization could pass from a peace to war footing whenever the necessity arose. Colonel Bowerbank has had a long experience in military medical matters, and it was he who was called upon to organize the medical side of the Royal New Zealand Air Force. He has seen it develop from nothing to its present large organization. Colonel Bowerbank enlisted in 1914, and in June of the following year he went overseas with the rank of Captain and saw service in Egypt. A year later he was a temporary Major and was sent to England in charge of the Medical Division of the N.Z. General Hospital. The efficiency he displayed can be gauged from the fact that his services were brought to the personal notice of the Secretary of State for War. It may also be stated that during the war he was mentioned in despatches no fewer than five times, and was appointed an officer of the Order of the British Empire (0.8. E. In September, 1917, Major Bowerbank was appointed President of the New Zealand Medical Board at Headquarters, London, and soon afterwards went to France where he was specially sent to organize a Medical Board depot in January, 1918. While in France he was President of the N.Z. Travelling Medical Beard and also held the position of Senior Medical Officer at Etaples. After the end of the war Major Bowerbank was retained in England as President of the New Zealand Medical Board at Codford, and upon his return to New Zealand in the latter half of 1919 was appointed assistant to the Director-General of Medical Services at Army Headquarters, Wellington. He was appointed Director of Medical Services in 1934 with the rank of Colonel, and in 1939 was appointed Diiector-General of Medical Services (Army and Air). Colonel Bowerbank again visited England in 1937-38, when he was Director of Medical Services, and spent a considerable time at the War Office and at Headquarters of the Royal Air Force where he studied the latest methods of medical administration. Upon his return to New Zealand he found the information he had obtained to be invaluable. Prior to takingup the position of Director of Medical Services, Colonel Bowerbank was Assistant Director of Medical Services for the Wellington District from 1929-34. In addition to his military qualifications, Colonel Bowerbank stands m , h ' S profession - He was Chairman of the Council of the B.M.A in „f IL an M rt n °V '?• embei ' Of the Executive In addition, he was President taide hX y a? 011 ,1 , Australasian Medical Congress held at Ademofession Ho" ■A, ° ther high ° fflceS in the ranks of the medical blanch of r , ls T noWII of course, as a heart specialist, in which branch of medicine he practised in Wellington for several years and only relinquished his practice upon the outbreak of war ’ ested T movement is another activity in which he is neatly interWhit and for several years he has been President ° f the n • • Council. While ho ws<? in RvifoUo • moo , , esiclent of the Dominion Council, “of New Zealand. 38 he & tended the TC H Conference as repreCxclX haS be6n Physician to His He spares no pains when it comps tn ii, u* troops and takes a great deal of interest in the d t” Tt health ° f Air Force personnel insisting that . he diets of the soldiers and at all times. Possessing organising abilit appetising food shall be served Bcwerbank—owing to the wfllteg "cmoperoHon 130 ? the aVeraee > Colonel staff—is able . put u. ideas inU axi X“ «