The history of the St George Hospital has been advanced and ennobled by the life and career of Dr James Cameron English. A plaque in the hospital lecture theatre named after him describes him simply as: Physician, Teacher, Friend. Whilst he was pre-eminent in each of these roles the plaque alone cannot convey the affection held for this unique man, nor the debt that society and, indeed, Australia owe to him.

Jim was born in Orange, NSW and had a younger brother Bill. Both parents, his mother a musician and his father an accountant, valued learning greatly. Jim did not disappoint them, attending Goulburn High School, gaining a maximum pass with two first class Honours (one in English) and a Scholarship to Sydney University in 1926. He gained Blues for both the University and the combined Australian Universities hockey teams. He also became ‘billiards-dependent’ during his undergraduate years. This may have deprived him from taking out the University medical, though he gained first place in years 5 and 6. His only regret was that he had not played better billiards!

After residency at RPAH, in 1933 he moved to general practice in Gunnedah where he was to meet his life-long partner, his beloved wife Nell. Each was intellectually and equally formidable-though never ostentatious. They were always great company and wonderfully amusing friends. Jim told the story how one wet and windy night at 2:30am a knock came to the front door. Jim, bleary-eyed, struggled to the door, opened it to reveal a huge, ‘Wetazbone’, broad-brimmed fellow citizen cheerily standing on the verandah. “Doc’, he said ‘tonight’s mailtrain is running about one and a half hours late so I though I’d just come over and let your syringe out my ears?” Perhaps this was the basis of Jim’s later dictum to his children and grand children: “Never put anything smaller than your elbow in your ears.” His wit was of the best Australian variety – dry, laconic, kindly, original, highly perceptive but never, never hurtful.

He joined the Army in 1940 and served in Egypt and the Middle East, Greece and Crete, Ceylon, New Guinea and the Islands. His contribution amongst the chaos and slush of New Guinea has been summarized by Colonel Sir Edward Ford (qv 2) in a letter to Mrs English:

‘During the war in the South-West Pacific, Dr English played a notable part in the antimalarial work of the Australian Army, and his service was marked by rare competence, tireless energy, and extreme gallantry. At the outset of the war in New Guinea, it was clear that malarial conditions prevailed which had invariably, to that time, destroyed heavily engaged Armies as fighting forces. Dr (then Major) English was selected, with three other officers from the whole of the Australian Army Medical Corps, as most capable, as malariologists, of dealing in the field with what could well have been a disastrous situation. He had the highly responsible duties of advising commanders, assisting in operational planning, and supervising and inspiring antimalarial measures. In these he shared the hardships of the fighting troops, which he accompanied throughout the campaign. He was a mainstay in establishing and maintaining the successful Australian malarial control system, based on discipline and training, in places where any breakdown of effectiveness could mean probable defeat. As a result of this work, malarial casualties in the Pacific fell to levels, which were miraculous by early comparison, and Australian control methods were widely adopted in the Allied forces. This combined with Australian research on drug suppression of malaria, was a turning point in the war, for it was now possible, for the first time, to control malaria in jungle warfare.

In the latter years of his service Dr (then Lieutenant Colonel) English, was Senior Malariologist to Australian Forces in the South-West Pacific. He was one of the very few Australians capable of holding this post. His work was superb, and both Brigadier Sir Neil Fairley (qv 1) and Colonel Sir Edward Ford, who were closely association with this, regarded him as one of the best field malariologists in the Allied forces.”

After the war he settled in general practice in Sans Souci with Dr Ken Richardson and then in Ramsgate with Dr Ron Bonnette. He was appointed as Clinical Assistant Physician to St George Hospital, worked and studied prodigiously in the practice and hospital to acquire his MRACP. He was elected FRACP in 1956 and rapidly established himself as the leading and senior physician of the region. He remained as a consultant physician in his Hurstville practice from 1956 till 1987. He had long since occupied the post as senior physician and teacher within the steadily growing St George Hospital.

Under Jim’s guidance and leadership, students began to do very well academically at St George. This has continued, at first briefly in association with the University of Sydney, and then with the University of NSW. Due to the untiring efforts of many, undergraduate and postgraduate appointments to the St George Hospital now command a high priority.

His influence on students and resident staff was profound. Jim was a master in lateral thinking before it was invented! He was excellent in committee, where as medical representative on the Board of Directors, his wise judgement and counsel were always greatly appreciated. His was the quiet, logical approach usually very much to the point, never destructive, invariably helpful. He built bridges not barriers.

The empathy which he felt for his Army life motivated him to join and to serve Legacy with great constancy from 1953 onward. He became Chairman of the St George/Sutherland division and, according to his friend and colleague, Dr David Brown was usually the first to ‘visit the widows and orphans in their affliction’ and to maintain contact with them.

At the time of his death I had known Jim for 47 years and had not become aware of any imperfections in him. Since he was human they probably existed but his daughter, Kate had not found them either, declaring recently that he was ‘just a wonderful man.’

Dr English served the College as a Member-Councillor of the RACP 1960-63, and as a member of the NSW State Committee 1958-66.

He died peacefully in the arms of those he loved in 1998 in his 90th year. His legion of friends, patients and colleagues remember with gratitude his wonderful service to the St George Hospital.