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Resource Name:
Resource Type:
External Resource
Metadata
Asset Name:
E005380 - Fry, Sir William Kelsey (1889 - 1963)
Title:
Fry, Sir William Kelsey (1889 - 1963)
Author:
Royal College of Surgeons of England
Identifier:
RCS: E005380
Publisher:
London : Royal College of Surgeons of England
Publication Date:
2014-06-04
Description:
Obituary for Fry, Sir William Kelsey (1889 - 1963), Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of England.
Language:
English
Source:
Plarr's Lives of the Fellows
Full Name:
Fry, Sir William Kelsey
Date of Birth:
18 March 1889
Date of Death:
26 October 1963
Place of Death:
Bexhill
Occupation:
Titles/Qualifications:
Kt 1951

CBE1946

MRCS November 1912

FRCS by election 8 May 1952

LDS 1913

FDS by election 31 July 1947

LRCP 1912

Hon MDS Durham 1948

DSc McGill
Details:
Born on 18 March 1889, son of Edward Fry of Greenwich, he was educated at Hurstpierpoint and Guy's Hospital, qualifying both as a doctor and a dental surgeon. In the war of 1914-18 he served as a regimental medical officer attached to the Welsh Fusiliers, and landed in France with the 7th Division in October 1914. He was wounded at Festubert in May 1915 but soon rejoined, and remained with the battalion until wounded again on 26 August 1916. During his two years he was present at Neuve Chapelle, Aubers Ridge, Festubert and the Somme. He was steadfastly courageous and his calm, happy temperament carried him through the long period apparently unaffected. Immensely kind and devoted to his battalion, he remained in touch with the survivors of his little band of stretcher bearers. Later in the war he worked with Sir Harold Gilles at Queen Mary's Hospital, Sidcup, pioneering the development of facio-maxillary surgery; his experience provided the substance of his essay on "Treatment of injuries of the jaws" which was awarded the Cartwright prize of the College. After the war he was appointed to the staff of Guy's, where he was recognised as an outstanding teacher and clinician. During the war of 1939-45 he worked at the Queen Victoria Hospital, East Grinstead, which he made the foremost postgraduate teaching centre. He was also largely responsible for the establishment of a postgraduate dental school at the Eastman Dental Hospital, where he was lecturer in oral surgery. In these war years he acted as consultant in dentistry to the Emergency Medical Service and also to the Royal Air Force. He retired from the staff of Guy's in 1949 but retained his connection with the Eastman Clinic. He was Dean of the Faculty of Dental Surgery in the College 1950-53, a Governor of Guy's, and a member of the S E Metropolitan Health Board. In his youth he was a hockey player of repute and later a keen golfer, also finding time to devote to his garden, carnations being his favourite flowers. He married in 1916 Ruby Hannah, second daughter of John Preston, by whom he had a son. He died on 26 October 1963 at Bexhill. A memorial service was held on 20 November at St Clement Danes, the RAF church.
Sources:
*Brit med J* 1963, 2, 1206 with portrait

*Lancet* 1963, 2 954 with portrait

*The Times* 28 October 1963, and 2 November p 12 A appreciation by LLAAA, and 21 November p 14 D memorial service
Rights:
Copyright (c) The Royal College of Surgeons of England
Collection:
Plarr's Lives of the Fellows
Format:
Obituary
Format:
Asset
Asset Path:
Root/Lives of the Fellows/E005000-E005999/E005300-E005399
Media Type:
Unknown