Piero Francisco Bruno Fiaschi OBE VD MD (1879 - 1948)

Ancestors

Biography

Doctor Piero Francisco Bruno Fiaschi OBE VD MD MRCS LRCP was born on 5th March 1879 at Thompson Square, Windsor, New South Wales, Australia. He was the second son of Brigadier General Doctor Thomas Fiaschi DSO and Kate Reynolds. He was christened on 2nd April 1879 in St Matthew's Church of England (Anglican Church), Windsor. He graduated from the New York College of Dentistry in 1903 and MD in 1905 from Columbia University. In 1906 he qualified MRCS (England) and LRCP (London).

Returning to Sydney he established a medical practice and, in 1909, became a part-time medical officer in the Australian Army Medical Corps (AAMC).

He transferred to the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) on 20th August 1914 for full-time overseas service during the First World War; embarking on 23rd September aboard HMAT Southern A27 with the 1st Light Horse Field Ambulance.^[1] He served at Egypt, Gallipoli and in France as a surgeon with the Light Horse, and then as a special surgeon. He was later promoted to Major and transferred to the 13th Australian Field Ambulance. He was awarded a Commander in Chief's Congratulatory Card in Octber 1916.^[2] He was Mentioned in Despatches and was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his service during the war. He finished the war as a Lieutenant Colonel, demobilising from the AIF in England on 3rd November 1918.^[3]

On 31st January 1917 in All Souls Parish Church, Marylebone, London, he married Grace Thompson.^[4]

The couple returned to Australia via the United States. Piero set up a highly successful practice at 178 Phillip Street, Sydney, and became a genito-urinary specialist and an authority on venereal disease: 'the condottiere of Phillip Street'. He refused to move the practice when Macquarie Street became fashionable for the profession. He was clinical assistant at Sydney Hospital in 1936-46. Piero remained with the militia for 25 years, eventually commanding the 9th Field Ambulance, 1927-28, the 4th Cavalry Field Ambulance, 1928-30, and in 1930-32 was acting director of medical services of the 1st Cavalry Division of 2nd Military District.

Piero's war experience affected him deeply. Although outwardly abrupt, he was inwardly shy; with many lovable qualities, he combined the hospitableness and stubbornness of the northern Italian with the generosity and impetuosity of the Irish. He was full of contradictions.

He passed away on 15th June 1948 in Sydney Hospital, Macquarie Street, Sydney as a result of severe burns from an accident with a gas stove. His funeral took place in St James' Church of England (Anglican Church), Sydney and he was then buried in Waverley Cemetery.^[5] He was survived by his wife, daughter, and granddaughter.

Piero was intensely fond and proud of his father, and like him the subject of many anecdotes. Father and son are commemorated by a life-sized bronze replica of the famous Florentine Porcellino monument, outside Sydney Hospital, which was donated in 1967 to the city by the Marchesa Torrigiani, Piero's sister.

Il Porcellino, Sydney Hospital

Il Porcellino plaque to the Doctors Fiaschi

Sources

1. ↑ Australian War Memorial embarkation roll: Captain Piero Faschi; accessed 12 Jul 2019
2. ↑ Australian War Memorial Honours and Awards: Piero Fiaschi; accessed 12 Jul 2019
3. ↑ Australian War Memorial nominal roll: Lieutenant Colonel Piero Faschi; accessed 12 Jul 2019
4. ↑ UK FreeBMD Mar qtr 1917, vol 1a, page 1083
5. ↑ New South Wales Death Index #15365/1948

• Walsh, G P. 'Fiaschi, Piero Francis (1879–1948)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, published first in hardcopy 1981; accessed 11 Jul 2019.
• The Fiaschis of Tizzana; accessed 12 Jul 2019.