Born in South Africa, the eldest son of the Rev G F Childe, MA Oxon., Professor of Mathematics at the South African College and Assistant Astronomer of the Royal Observatory, Cape Town. He received his education at the University of the Cape of Good Hope, where he graduated with honours in Arts, and obtained the Maynard Scholarship and University Exhibition in 1877. He then entered Magdalene College, Cambridge, of which he was a Scholar. He received his medical training at King's College, London, where he gained a Warneford Scholarship. He started in general practice at Southsea early in 1886, being later joined in partnership by his former friend, John Lister Wright. He soon devoted himself entirely to surgery, and after taking the Fellowship, was appointed Assistant Surgeon to the Royal Portsmouth Hospital, where he rapidly made a reputation as one of the leading surgeons in the South of England. He was greatly instrumental in raising the hospital to its modern standard of efficiency, and when in obedience to the age regulations he retired in 1923, he was appointed Senior Hon Consulting Surgeon and Chairman of the Committee of Management. In addition to his brilliant and laborious work at the hospital, he was Surgeon to the Hampshire and Isle of Wight School for the Blind, and had been Surgeon to the Home for Sick Children, Southsea, Anaesthetist to the Portsmouth and South Hants Eye and Ear Infirmary, and Senior Surgeon to the South Hants Medical and Surgical Home for Women. In 1912 his medical colleagues pressed him to take part in municipal affairs, and he became representative of the Mile End Ward on the Town Council. In 1919 he was made Chairman of the Health Committee, and as such was able to influence the Council in the direction of greatly improving the housing conditions in Portsmouth. He was a most painstaking investigator of all questions which came before his committee and a most incisive speaker, and there is no doubt that Portsmouth owes much to his labours. During the Great War (1914-1918) Childe was for some time in charge of the 5th Southern General Hospital, and held the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in the RAMC (T). He was devoted to the interests of the British Medical Association, being President of the Southern Branch in 1912, and Chairman of the Portsmouth Division in 1914, having previously been Hon Secretary and Treasurer for three years and Clinical Secretary from 1910. At the Portsmouth Meeting in 1899 he was Secretary of the Section of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, and at the meeting there in 1923 he was elected President of the Association. The meeting, greatly owing to his efforts, was a success, and in July, 1925, he was elected a Vice-President. He was much interested in the prevention and cure of cancer, and strongly advocated early diagnosis and removal. Slight of build, Childe was none the less a man of unbounded energy, a keen follower of cricket and tennis matches, an ardent golfer, founder of the Childe Challenge Cup for medical players of the game; a charming companion. In all his work thoroughness was his characteristic. He died at Monte Carlo on Jan 30th, 1926, from influenza and pneumonia, and was buried at Highland Road Cemetery, Southsea, on Feb 10th, 1926. He practised at Cranleigh, Kent Road, Southsea. Publications: *The Control of a Scourge, or How Cancer is Curable,* 8vo, London, 1907. The book was an attempt to substitute sound knowledge and hope for ignorance and despair. *Operative Nursing and Technique: A Book for Nurses, Dressers, House Surgeons, etc.*, 12mo, 9 plates, London, 1909; 2nd ed, 1916; 3rd ed, 1920. "Operative Treatment of Intra-Oral Cancer." - *Brit. Med. Jour.*, 1909, i, 6. "Cancer, Public Authorities, and the Public." - *Ibid.*, 1914, i, 643. "The Area of Acute Abdominal Conflux, and the Incision of Incidence." - *Lancet*, 1907, i, 936. This is a notable paper. "Abdominal Panhysterectomy for Carcinoma of Cervix Uteri by Clamp and Cautery." - *Brit. Jour. Surg.*, 1914-15, ii, 119. Cancer leaflets, now (1926) often issued by Health authorities, doubtless originated with Childe, who caused the Portsmouth Health Department to issue the first educational leaflet on cancer.