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Dr Robert England Kerr, Civil Surgeon, Ladysmith 6 years 11 months ago #52938

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Robert England Kerr

Civilian Surgeon – Anglo Boer War

- Queens South Africa Medal with clasp Natal to R.E Kerr, Surgeon

Robert Kerr was born in Kirkhill, Inverness, Scotland on 24 August 1868 the son of Robert Kerr and his wife Sarah Ann born England. Our first glimpse of a young Robert was at the time of the 1871 Scotland census when, at age 2, he was at home with his parents and siblings Caroline (11), Sarah (7) and George (4). To complete the picture was 39 year old Hannah Eastwood – a domestic servant and nursemaid. Mr Kerr was a successful and prosperous farm manager of 350 acres in Bunchrew Ladiston of which 300 were arable and employing 3 men and a boy.



Ten years later at the time of the 1881 Scotland census a 12 year old Robert was a school boy – the family had grown in leaps and bounds with the addition of Elizabeth (10), Charlotte (7), Hester (6) John (5) and Agnus (2) bringing up the rear.

Quite what decided Robert to pursue a career in medicine is unknown but, according to the 1891 Scotland census, he was enrolled as a Medical Student with an address of 19 High Street, Inverness. This wasn’t the full story, however, as he had graduated from the University of Aberdeen in 1888 with a Master of Arts Degree before continuing with medicine which he completed, both his M.D. and C.M., in 1892 at the age of 24.

In the late 1890’s (some reports say 1899) he decided to emigrate to South Africa to build a practice settling on the Witwatersrand at a time when hostilities between the Boer Republics of the Transvaal and the Orange Free State were about to commence in what became known as the Anglo Boer War. The Medical Directory for 1900 has him practicing in Jeppestown, Johannesburg.



12 Stationery Hospital personnel

Spurred on by the increasing demand for qualified and experienced medical personnel Kerr offered his services to the Imperial Authorities and was appointed as a Civilian Surgeon. His expertise was sorely needed in a conflict which seemed destined to rage on interminably with no immediate end in sight. Employed as he was at No. 12 Stationary Hospital in Ladysmith he had missed out, mercifully, on the Siege and all the hardships that accompanied it. He also appears, according to the roll from which his Queens Medal with Natal clasp was issued on 15 July 1901, to have served aboard the transport ship “Cheshire” at some point.


Another photo of 12 Stationery Hospital's personnel

After the war was over in May 1902 Kerr found himself embroiled in a legal fracas which had its origin before the war commenced. In a case before the Supreme Court he argued that Messrs. Thrupp & Co. pay him the sum of £5000 damages for injuries he suffered when the “boy” driving Thrupp & Co.’s cart drove into his carriage. The respondents argued that the boy had not done so maliciously and offered compensation of £400 which Kerr refused.

This all took place in mid-1899 before Kerr signed up for military service. In July 1902 Thrupp & Co. countered that the case had been dragging on for too long and issued a counter claim that the case be settled once and for all in the Pretoria High Court whence all legal cases had been referred by the British Military authorities. Kerr countered that he was now an invalid and in practice in Jeppestown making it impossible for him to travel to Pretoria. Thrupp & Co. claimed that he had been “seen” driving a trap and astride a horse which meant that his injuries could not have been that severe. The court found in favour of Kerr and the matter ended.




After this Kerr betook himself to the United Kingdom returning from Southampton in 1904. Keeping close links with his family at home in Scotland he had made good use of his time there – the “Inverness Courier” of 29 December 1905 reported under a heading “Kirkton School – Christmas Gifts” that:

“There was a large gathering of pupils of the school, with their parents and friends on Christmas Day when well-filled hampers of good things were presented as gifts to the scholars by Dr R. England Kerr, Johannesburg.”

Kerr seems to have made a habit of this gesture as the very same publication, on 1 January 1907, reported under the heading “Kirkton School Christmas Treat” that,

“The pupils attending Kirkton School have again been remembered by Dr R. England Kerr, Johannesburg, who has presented them with hampers containing good fare and seasonable dainties for Christmas. Dr Kerr himself being an old pupil of Kirkton School. Mr D. Wishart spoke of the great generosity of Dr Kerr who, living as he did in a distant land, never forgot the old place or the old school.”

Kerr continued on in his Jeppestown practice but tragedy was soon to befall him - the Aberdeen Daily Journal of Thursday, March 9, 1911 reported that,

“News has been received from Johannesburg that Miss Agnes T. Kerr of Inverness, died on Tuesday morning from injuries in a motor car accident. It is feared that her brother, Dr Robert Kerr has also been injured. The young lady is the youngest daughter of the late Mr Robert Kerr, Englishtown, Bunchrew and sister of Dr George England Kerr, Inverness. She had been for several years in South Africa and made frequent visits to the home country. A favourite among all classes her death has caused profound regret in Inverness.”

On 20 May, Kerr boarded the “Edinburgh Castle” in Durban destined for the United Kingdom to pay a visit to family and to recover from his mental and physical ordeal. On 4 August 1911 a minute from the Prime Minister’s Office read that,

“Ministers have the honour to recommend that His Excellency the Governor-General be pleased to approve of the appointment of Dr R England Kerr, Medical Officer to the Wolhuter Mine, as Medical Officer to the Miner’s Training School at £7.10.0 per month.”

Having recovered from his injuries Kerr next made an appearance in the South African Mining Journal of 16 November 1912. In an article entitled “Prevention of Phthisis” he was quoted,

“In evidence before the Tuberculosis Commission this week, Dr Robert England Kerr, who has 16 or 17 years experience in Johannesburg, stated his conviction that mining regulations had been improved to such an extent that, if properly carried out, miners phthisis should practically be non-existent soon. Speaking particularly of the Wolhuter Mine (he was employed there as Medical Officer), he stated that he went underground a great deal and he was more than surprised at the great improvement which had taken place in underground conditions.




About 10 days ago he visited some of the blind ends, where one would expect to find at least a considerable amount of dust. Asked if there were many cases of phthisis on the Wolhuter Mine, Dr Kerr said he was not aware of any newly developed cases. “In fact” added Dr Kerr, “I can hardly imagine phthisis being possible under the present conditions.”

The South African Medical Record of September 1918 reported the death of Dr Robert Kerr on 28 July at the age of 51 (death notice says 49). Having never married he was survived by his sister Eliza Finlayson (who resided with him), his brothers and fellow Doctors’ George and John and another sister Charlotte Hulse. His estate was a substantial one amounting to £5 314 consisting of gold mining shares in the main.








The following user(s) said Thank You: Brett Hendey, lenglandkerr

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Dr Robert England Kerr, Civil Surgeon, Ladysmith 6 years 11 months ago #52939

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Thank you Rory......

Very interesting piece of research......

Mike
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Military Historical Society
O.M.R.S. 1591

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Dr Robert England Kerr, Civil Surgeon, Ladysmith 6 years 11 months ago #52941

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Very nice to find a doctor who moved to South Africa before the war and could be considered South African. I have never seen a nicely researched specimen like this, well done!

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Dr Robert England Kerr, Civil Surgeon, Ladysmith 6 years 11 months ago #52946

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Thanks Mike and Ryan - through the good offices of Baden Powell in the USA (Forum member not the original....) I have acquired a pair to a Dr Hamilton who promises to be even more interesting.

Regards

Rory

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Dr Robert England Kerr, Civil Surgeon, Ladysmith 6 years 11 months ago #52948

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Good Morning Rory........

I am glad to hear that you were able to get the Hamilton pair.......

Mike
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Military Historical Society
O.M.R.S. 1591

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Dr Robert England Kerr, Civil Surgeon, Ladysmith 6 years 11 months ago #52950

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Thanks Mike

A fellow Forumite who is resident in the US of A came to my rescue. Hamilton promises to be a cracker - one of Guy Hospital's best and brightest who gave it all up to practice in SA.

Regards

Rory

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