ELVINS, Dr Henry Francis Herbert (1875-1960)Henry Elvins was born on the 14 January 1875, the son of James Elvins and Bessie Lavina Cooke nee Dick. He was enrolled as a day student at Geelong College on 18 February 1889 and his address at enrolment was Malop Street, Geelong. He gained the following class awards:
1890, 1st, Latin, University Class
1890, 1st, French, University Class
1890, 1st, English, University Class
1890, 1st, Geography, University Class
1890, 1st, History, University Class
He studied medicine at The University of Melbourne, where he graduated MB BS.
During World War I, he enlisted in the Australian Army Medical Corps (AAMC) as a Captain on 1 August 1916, and embarked for Egypt on 5 September on
RMS Kashgar, serving at the 14th Australian General Hospital in Abbassia in November 1916. He was invalided to Australia and discharged from the AIF in March 1917, but re-enlisted on 11 June 1917, embarked on
RMS Somali on 30 June, and served again in Egypt in No 14 Australian General Hospital and No 5 Australian General Hospital.
Pegasus of August 1917 reported:
'Dr Howard Elvins, who left Australia again on the 30th June, was expected to arrive in Egypt during August. He is joining up again with his former unit, at the 14th General Hospital, Cairo.' Captain Elvins returned to Australia on 8 March 1919, and was demobilised on 21 November.
He died on 29 August 1960. An obituary in
Pegasus of December 1906 recorded:
'Dr Herbert F H Elvins died on August 29. After leaving the College in 1890, he entered upon a career in medicine, and practised for many years in Geelong, where he joined in a number of phases of public life. He was a leading member of St Giles Presbyterian Church, and served on the Morongo Council for many years. His son, Weston, also an Old Collegian, is the Presbyterian Minister at Myrtleford.' Sources: Pegasus December 1960 p71; Geelong Collegians at the Great War compiled by James Affleck. p187 (citing The University of Melbourne: Record of Active Service of Teachers, Graduates, Undergraduates, Officers and Servants (1926); Pegasus; National Archives).