WATERHOUSE, Dr George Alan (1896-1977)George Alan Waterhouse was born on 9 June 1896, the son of George Wilson Waterhouse and Alice Gertrude nee Swindells.
He attended Launceston Grammar School before his enrolment on 15 April 1914 as a boarder at Geelong College. He left in December 1914. Though entered as George Alan Waterhouse he seems to have been known as 'Alan'.
During World War I, Alan was studying Medicine when he enlisted (No. 30017) with the AIF as a Gunner on 25 February 1916 and embarked with 120th Howitzer Battery on
HMAT A60 Aeneas on 2 October 1916. He transferred to 13 Field Artillery Brigade (FAB) in August 1916, and to 12 FAB in France on 28 March 1917. He took leave to England late in October 1917, then transferred to 7th Squadron, Australian Flying Corps (AFC) on 7 August 1918. He returned to Australia on
HMT Kildonian Castle, embarking on 21 March 1919.
Launceston's
Examiner newspaper reported about him in 1923:
'Word was received yesterday that Mr. G. Alan Waterhouse, son of Mr. G. W. Waterhouse, of this city, had passed his final examination for the degree of M.B.B.S. Dr. Waterhouse was educated at Church Grammar School, Launceston, and Geelong College, Geelong. He enlisted in 1916, and served with the artillery in France until April, 1918. He then entered the Air Force and qualified as a pilot, shortly before the armistice.
He remained as instructor at an aerodrome until he entered on his medical studies. Dr. Waterhouse had one year at Hobart University prior to his enlistment, and after his discharge from the army he entered and was resident at Ormond College, Melbourne University, for the remainder of the five years term. Dr. Waterhouse is in Launceston at the present time.' His wedding was described in 1925 by Perth's
Western Mail newspaper:
'Dainty, petite, fair and very pretty looked Dr. Kathleen Daly, as, in bridal array, she came up the aisle of St. John's, Camberwell on the arm of her father. Dr. Kathleen is one of Melbourne's clever women. She was the first woman to top the honour list in the final examinations in medicine in April, 1923. Since then, she has been attached to the Melbourne Hospital. The lucky man is Dr. Alan Waterhouse, youngest son of Mr. G. W. Waterhouse, of Launceston, Tasmania. ... Twin sisters-Beatrice and Dora - small, fairy, dainty girls were maids. ... Dr. Kathleen, intends to practise after her wedding; her plate will he placed beside her husband's at Bright.' His son,
Dr Arthur Robert Waterhouse (1926-2014), was also educated at Geelong College.
Sources: The Examiner (Launceston) 28 March 1923 p5; Western Mail (Perth)25 June 1925 p28; Geelong Collegians at the Great War compiled by James Affleck. p333 (citing The Pegasus; National Archives).