In the medical profession there are many generations of families. The Jose family is one of the most renown families that had multiple generations working at the Adelaide Hospital.
This history looks at the many members of the Jose family many of whom worked at the Adelaide (Royal) Hospital throughout the decades. The Jose family is a prominent family in the medical field not only in South Australia but also around the world. Having each found the profession early on in life.
George Herbert Jose was born in Bristol, England in 1868. In 1888 he migrated to Australia and married Clara Ellen Stuart on 25th December 1890 in Victoria. The newlyweds went to China in 1891 for missionary work and George was ordained by the Bishop of China in 1893. It was in China where their three sons were born. Two went on to become doctors and the other was killed in action during World War 1 aged 22.
- Ivan Bede born 1893
- Wilfrid Oswald born 1895. Died 3rd April 1917
- Gilbert Edgar born 1898
1st Generation
Sir Ivan Bede JOSE (1893-1969)
Early Years
Ivan Bede Jose was born on 13th February 1893 in Ningpo, China. First son of George Herbert Jose, an Anglican missionary from England, and his wife Clara Ellen (nee Sturt) from South Australia. George and Clara were in China at the time of Ivan’s birth doing missionary work.
Ivan’s siblings were
- Wilfrid Oswald born 25th March 1895. Killed during World War 1 on 3rd April 1917.
- Gilbert Edgar born 1st November 1898.
Schooling
He began his schooling at the Queen’s School (later known as Queen’s College) in North Adelaide. From 1905 until 1910 he was educated at St Peter’s College. Whilst at school he served in the cadets. Ivan went onto study medicine at the University of Adelaide, graduating in 1915.
WW1
Ivan joined the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) on the 27th November 1914 as a medical student. At the time he was 21 years and 7 months old. He joined the second reinforcements of the 1ASH (Number 1 Australian Stationary Hospital). Having been given the rank of acting Sergeant he was discharged in March 1915 to focus on completing his medical studies. . On 5th February 1916 he re-joined the army as a Captain in the Australian Army Medical Corps (A.A.M.C).
In November 1915 he sailed for the Middle East. Initially posted to the 2nd Field Ambulance by June of that year he was posted with the 14th Field Ambulance on the Western Front. In September to October 1917 he supervised the evacuation of casualties from Ypes (Belgium) whilst under fire. It is for this act that he was awarded the Military Cross. By 1918 he had been promoted to Major and on 10th December he returned to Australia,
Marriage
Soon after returning to Australia Ivan became engaged to Imogen Mervyn (Mary/Jean) Hawkes. They married on 20th May 1919 at Christ Church, North Adelaide.
They had three children:
- Margaret Dorothea born 5th May 1920. Died 8th January 2000.
- Robert Oswald born 19th September 1922. Died 28th January 2019.
- John Salisbury born 9th April 1931. Died 18th April 2015.
Career
Ivan and his family were in England in 1922 when he qualified as a FRACS (Fellow of the Royal Colleges of Surgeons) in England and Edinburgh. In December 1923 he had gained his MS (Master of Surgery) in Adelaide.
In 1923 he was appointed a medical and surgical registrar at the Adelaide Hospital. By 1924 he took up the position as honorary assistant surgeon at the Adelaide Hospital. After some time Ivan took up a position as Honorary Surgeon from April 1930 until April 1950. As he came closer to retirement he took on the position of Honorary Consulting Surgeon.
WW2
Ivan enlisted with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) on 20th November 1940 in Adelaide as a Wing Commander. He did not see overseas combat and remained in Australia. His duties during the war were listed as part time surgeon consultant and was a squadron leader.
Honours
In 1956 artist Ivor Hele painted Ivan Jose’s portrait for entry in the Archibald Prize. Titled Mr IB Jose, MC it did not win the coveted prize but showcased the high esteem that Ivan was held in. The portrait is now part of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons collection.
Knighthood
Ivan Bede Jose was given a knighthood as part of the Queen’s Birthday Honours (3rd June 1963). The ceremony and presentation took place on 27th December 1963 at Government House, Adelaide.
Death and Burial
Sir Ivan Bede Jose passed away on 23rd November 1969 at his North Adelaide home aged 76. He is buried in the Jose family plot at North Road Cemetery. His wife Imogen passed away on 13th July 1974 and is buried along side her husband.
Gilbert Edgar JOSE (1898-1942)
Early Years
The third child of George and Clara Jose he was born on 1st November 1898 in Taizhou, China. The family left China in 1899 and went to England where George was the Davis Chinese Scholar at Oxford in 1900 and 1903. Its after this that the family migrated to Australia and settled in Adelaide.
Schooling
Gilbert began his schooling at the Queen’s School (later known as Queen’s College) like his brothers. In 1911 Gilbert was at St Peter’s College, Adelaide and it was here that he passed his Primary examinations. By 1913 he had passed his Junior Public Examinations followed by his Senior and Higher Public examinations between 1914 and 1916.
It was during his time at Queen’s School that he competed in many cricket matches. In 1912 he played for the Old Boys in a match against present students. Also representing St Peter’s College at cricket, football and tennis between 1913 and 1917. In 1917 he was captain of both the Intercollegiate football and cricket teams. Gilbert was presented a cricket bat by His Excellency the Governor Sir Henry Galway in recognition of his score of 96. This was the best score in the match against Prince Alfred College in 1917.
Gilbert became a member of the St Peter’s Cadets and was appointed as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Senior Cadets in 1916.
In 1918 Gilbert commenced study at Adelaide University studying medicine. Having graduated in 1922 he began his medical career at the Adelaide Hospital.
WW1
Like his two older brothers Gilbert enlisted for service in World War 1. However he was still at the depot when hostilities ceased on 11th November 1918. Therefore he did not serve overseas during this war.
Marriage
Gilbert married Hazel Dorothy Brook on the 6th May 1924. Shortly after the wedding the couple travelled to England where Gilbert gained his Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons (Edinburgh).
Gilbert and Hazel had 2 children
- Geoffrey Alan born 18th April 1925
- Anthony Douglas born 1929
Shortly after the birth of Geoffrey, Gilbert’s mother Clara passed away. Tragically his wife Hazel passed away on the 29th December 1930. She was just 28 years old.
Having to raise 2 sons on his own Gilbert became engaged to Mary Muecke. They married on 4th April 1934. They had one child
- David Gilbert born 1938
Career
From June 1925 until March 1928 Gilbert was the Officer of Health for the district of Onkaparinga.
In 1937 Gilbert was appointed as an honorary medical assistant at the Adelaide Hospital (Surgical Section). By 1939 he had been appointed as an honorary clinical assistant to the Surgical Section also at the Adelaide Hospital.
WW2
Gilbert enlisted for service on 31st October 1940. Having had the rank of honorary Captain by December he had been appointed from the AAMC Reserves to be a Major.
In 1941 Gilbert had been posted overseas. He was posted as a major to 10 AGH (Australian General Hospital) in Singapore with 8th Division. It was here that the Japanese captured it.
Death
Having been captured and taken as a prisoner of war (POW) 8th March 1946 at Changi. He died of dysentery on the 27th March 1942.
Burial
He was buried at the AIF Cemetery POW Camp. It was after this in 1946 that he was exhumed and reburied at Kranji Military Cemetery in Singapore (Grave Number 13).
2nd Generation
John Salisbury JOSE (1931- 2015)
Early Years
John Salisbury Jose was born on 9th April 1931 at the Jose family home at 58 Brougham Place, North Adelaide to Ivan Bede Jose and Imogen Mervyn (Mary (nee Hawkes). John was the 3rd child having an older sister (Margaret) and brother (Robert). He was born in the same year his father was appointed an Assistant Surgeon at the Royal Adelaide Hospital. At that time his father came down with tuberculosis (TB). After playing on the rug with John he too came down with TB. at about 6 months old.
Schooling
John’s schooling began in Adelaide at Miss de Mole’s School in Aldgate in 1939.
I was staying with my Aunt at Mt Lofty at the time and that’s when I was at Miss de Mole’s school. From there I went ot St Peter’s College, Palm House , where I had two years in the top form 2A1 and then two years in 4A1 in the prep school. Why I skipped three, I don’t know, but I did”. John Jose Oral History, 2006
Soon after he was educated at Geelong Grammar in Victoria. This was due to the fact that his brother Robert had been sent there whilst young John was recuperating from TB. The school’s headmaster had been the brother of Adelaide Hospital Neurosurgeon Sir Leonard Lindon, a good friend of Sir Ivan. Spending the top form in the prep school and was there for two years prior to moving up to the senior school. Again he skipped a year. Whilst at Geelong Grammar he was House Captain and School Captain in 1949. Upon leaving school in 1949 he got a scholarship form Geelong which could be used anywhere.
Like his father and uncle John was interested in a variety of sports. Becoming involved in the Geelong Grammar’s rowing club for 3 years, becoming Captain of Boats. He also played football (Australian Rules) until he left the school in 1949.
His brother Robert had been in the Air Force during the war after receiving a scholarship from Cambridge. John’s father thought of sending John there too.
The Cambridge year starts in October, so he had to fill in nine months after he left school before I could go over to Cambridge. Deciding to attend the University of Adelaide studying botany and zoology. As there was no biology taught at school in those days. Cambridge entrance exams required a certain knowledge of biology. So John completed two terms of botany and zoology in Adelaide and then went to England.
Marriage
John Salisbury Jose married Briony Alison Sharp (abt 1959)
They had 4 children.
Career
After returning to Adelaide he completed his MBBS at the University of Adelaide and was awarded the Everard Scholarship for placing 1st in his year.
Between 1962 and 1965 John travelled throughout the UK and US taking up posts while overseas. Upon his return to Australia he took up private practice as a Urologist in North Adelaide. At that time he got a position as a consultant at the Repatriation Hospital (“The Repat”) at Daw Park in Urology.
By 1966 he commenced working at the Royal Adelaide Hospital in the Urology Unit as an Assistant Urologist and went on to become Senior Visiting Urologist in 1972. Whilst taking up these positions at the Repat and Royal Adelaide he continued in private practice working out of Calvary or Memorial Hospitals as well as consulting in Stirling and Murray Bridge.
When he came back from the country he was asked to be honorary secretary of the Medical Staff Society. At the time the Medical Staff Society was very active. They had access to the administration and the decision marking process.
Retirement
John Jose became involved in the Heritage Committee of the Royal Adelaide Hospital (now CALHN Health Museum) after being invited by Nick. Kaye Challinger was the CEO and asked if John would take over as Chairman of the Committee. He took on the position on a temporarily basis due to health issues.
Death
Dr John Salisbury Jose passed away on 18th April 2015 aged 84.
Geoffrey Alan JOSE (1925-2009)
Early Years
Geoffrey Alan Jose was the eldest son of Gilbert Edgar and Hazel Dorothy (nee Brook) Jose. He was born on 16th April 1925 in Adelaide. His younger brother Anthony Douglas was born on 17th February 1929.
Schooling
Geoffrey was educated at St Peters College. It was here that he excelled at athletics and cricket. He enrolled in Medical School at the University of Adelaide in 1943. He had topped his class in 2nd and 5th years and graduated in 1948.
Marriage
Geoffrey Alan Jose married Shirley Robin on 8th February 1950 at Christ Church North Adelaide.
He went on to marry Helen Branson on 6th April 1966 in Adelaide.
Career
After graduation he spent a year in a resident position at the Royal Adelaide Hospital. After this he entered private practice with Dr Eric Swan and Malcom Sarre at Glenelg. After 4 years in private practice he commenced surgical training at the Royal Adelaide Hospital.. The following year he went to England as a ships doctor. In England he continued his orthopaedic training at Richmond Surrey and Royal National Orthopaedics Hospital. In 1957 he passed the FRCS (Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons)(Edinburgh). Later that year he he passed the MCh (Master of Surgery) Orthopaedics in Liverpool. By 1958 he had returned to Adelaide and joined EF West and WJ Betts in the Orthopaedic Unit at the Royal Adelaide Hospital as well as in their private practice.
By 1972 he had succeeded Dr Bill Betts as Head of Unit and remained in that position until he retired from public orthopaedic work in 1978.
Apart from his work with patients in private practice and the Royal Adelaide Hospital Geoffrey was also SA State Chair of the Australian Orthopaedic Association from 1973 until 1975. He continued in private practice and after 1994until his retirement he only worked on medical legal cases.
Death
Dr Geoffrey Alan Jose passed away on 23rd February 2009.
Burial
Geffrey Jose is buried at Centennial Park Cemetery (Charles Newman Garden, Fountain 3 Rose 58/001)
Anthony Douglas JOSE (1929-1975)
Early Years
Anthony “Tony” Douglas was the second son of Gilbert Edgar and Hazel Dorothy (nee Brook). He was born on 17th February 1929 in Adelaide.
Schooling
His schooling began Queen’s College and then St Peter’s College in Adelaide in 1936. Its here he graduated with honors. He then attended the University of Adelaide where he was awarded a scholarship to study medicine. It was ahile he was at schhol that his brilliance for sport was apparent. He exelled at cricket.
It was in 1949 then Tony went to Oxford University in England as Rhodes Scholar for South Australia. At Oxford he enrolled in the Honours School in Physiology. This began his interest in cardiovascular mechanisms. He graduated in 1951. His talent for cricket continued and he bowed for the Oxford varsity cricket team, also gaining international acclaim as a fast bowler.
Although his medical degrees were gained at Oxford he completed his clinical training at Middlesex Hospital Medical School (London) in 1954. In 1953 he was awarded the Pathology Prize and in 1954 the Clinical Medical Prize.
Marriage
Tony married Margaret Jean Lilly in October 1956 in Cardiff, Wales.
They had three daughters
Career
After appointments as house physician and house surgeon he was appointed resident medical officer at the National Heart Hospital. Jose left England and went to America where he worked on the physiology of the pulmonary circulation at John Hopkins Hospital as well as working on indicator dilution theory and applications at Vanderbuilt where he was a Howard Hughes Research Fellow.
Tony left Vanderbuilt in 1960 and retuned to Australia as Director of Hallstrom Institute of Cardiology (Royal Prince Albert Hospital). He also recieved appointments in the department of medicine and physiology at the University of Sydney. He also began a program of investigation of the dynamics of the heart in a variety of diseased states. The data form this investigation uncovered “blocked” heart beat that was directly related to functional capacity. It was shown that it was age related. He was awarded the RT Hill Trust Prize in 1970 for his research.
Upon his return to America he was appointed associate professor of medicine at UCLA and chief of the cardiology department at the Los Angeles Veterans Administration hospital.
Death
Anthony “Tony” Douglas Jose died suddenly on 3rd February 1972 aged 43 in Los Angeles. Leaving behind wife Margaret and 3 daughters.
David Gilbert JOSE (1938-)
David Gilbert Jose was the only child of Gilbert Jose and his second wife Mary Muecke.
After graduation Dr David Jose was a senior Research Fellow at the Queensland Institute of Medical Research. Much of his research was based on health of Aboriginal children. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s he published a number of papers on this subject.
He was also part of the teaching and research staff of the University of Melbourne in 1990
Written by Kellie Branson, CALHN Health Museum
