description: One of Australian's most outstanding soldier-surgeons, Sir Neville Howse was awarded the Victoria Cross for his heroism during the Boer War, the first time it had been conferred on a member of an Australian military unit. He remains the only Australian medical officer to have received the VC. He later became Orange's leading citizen and served two productive terms as Mayor. He volunteered again in 1914 and was Senior Medical Officer at Anzac Cover, where he was chiefly responsible for saving the lives of 2,000 wounded men during the first three days of the landing alone. Always fearless and controversial, he accused the British medical authorities of 'criminal neglect' in his evidence to the Dardanelles Commission. Soon before the evacuation from Gallipoli, he was promoted to Major-General and appointed as Director of Medical Services for the whole of the AIE. He was knighted three times for his services. In 1921, Sir Neville Howse was appointed Director General of the Medical Services of the Australian Military Forces and made significant reforms. He entered Parliament in 1922 and held several portfolios - Defence, Health, Home and Territories, and Repatriation (now Veterans' Affairs), on which he set a stamp of caring concern which has continued to this day. He initiated the move of the Public Service to Canberra in 1928 and gave strong support to the establishment of the Australian War Memorial. As Minister of Health he encouraged medical research, notably cancer research, setting up on of the word's first radium banks. He died in 1930, a truly great Australian.
language: English
title: Anzac Doctor : The Life of Sir Neville Howse VC
titlecomplete: Anzac Doctor : The Life of Sir Neville Howse VC
publisher: Hale & Iremonger Pty Ltd