Claude John Tozer DSO MB (1890 - 1920)

Ancestors

Biography

Doctor Claude John Tozer DSO MB was born on 12th September 1890 in Sydney, New South Wales (Australia). He was the son of Jonathan Tozer, a bank manager, and Beatrice Charlton. ^[1] He attended Sydney Grammar School. ^[2]

After graduating from the University of Sydney with a Bachelor of Medicine (MB) in 1914, he was appointed a resident medical doctor at the Royal Hospital for Women, Paddington. Whilst at Uni he played for the university cricket team, becoming a handy batsman, and was a member of their premiership winning team in 1913-14. ^[2]

On 12th June 1915, with news spreading in Australia of the ANZAC landing at Gallipoli just weeks before, Claude was commissioned in the Australian Imperial Force as a surgeon (Captain) with the Australian Army Medical Corps. ^[3] He embarked at Sydney four days later aboard HMAT Karoola A63 with reinforcements for the 1st Australian General Hospital, then based in Alexandria, Egypt. ^[4] He served as medical officer (RMO) with the 3rd Australian Field Ambulance at Gallipoli. After the evacuation from the peninsula in the December he was hospitalised in Egypt with paratyphoid. He was severely wounded in the head and right leg in July 1916 during the Battle of Pozières. Following an extended convalescence in England he returned to France in January 1917. Promoted to Major he was later appointed as RMO to the 12th Infantry Battalion on the Western Front. After attaining the rank of Major, he returned to Australia following war's end, on 5th April 1919. He was then recovering from influenza. ^[3] His father had died in 1917 whilst Claude was overseas.

Claude was Mentioned in Despatches (equivalent to today's Commendation for Gallantry), gazetted in London on 28th December 1917, for 'distinguished and gallant service and devotion to duty in the field'. ^[5] He was appointed Companion of the Distinguished Service Order for his dedicated service at Ypres, Belgium in September 1917. ^[6][7] After the war he was issued the campaign and service medals: 1914-1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.

Claude set about establishing and building a medical practice at Roseville, in Sydney's northern suburbs. He also resumed playing cricket, lining-up with the Gordon Cricket Club. In the 1919-20 season he had the best batting average in the club. In early 1920 he protracted diphtheria. ^[2]

Aged just thirty years, Claude was murdered by Mrs Dorothy Mort a female patient during a home visit on 21st December 1920 in Lindfield, New South Wales and is buried in Waverley Cemetery. ^[8][9] Claude John Tozer's name is located at panel 184 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra. ^[10]

At the time of his death he was the leading score batsman in Gordon club and had successfully opened for New South Wales against the visiting English MCC team. ^[2]

Sources

1. ↑ New South Wales Birth Index #3171/1890
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3} VWMA; accessed 27 Jul 2021
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} Australian War Memorial nominal roll: Major Claude John Tozer; accessed 27 Jul 2021
4. ↑ Australian War Memorial embarkation roll: Captain Claude John Tozer; accessed 27 Jul 2021
5. ↑ Australian War Memorial honours and awards: Mention in Despatches; accessed 27 Jul 2021
6. ↑ Australian War Memorial honours and awards (recommendation): DSO; accessed 27 Jul 2021
7. ↑ Australian War Memorial honours and awards: DSO; accessed 27 Jul 2021
8. ↑ New South Wales Death Index #17025/1920; registered at Chatswood
9. ↑ ESPN CricInfo. Williamson, Martin. 'Hell hath no fury ...'; accessed 27 Jul 2021
10. ↑ Australian War Memorial roll of honour: Major Claude John Tozer; accessed 27 Jul 2021

See also

• Wikipedia profile: Claude Tozer; accessed 27 Jul 2021.