Chamberlain, Digby (1896 - 1962)
by
 
Royal College of Surgeons of England

Asset Name
E004950 - Chamberlain, Digby (1896 - 1962)

Title
Chamberlain, Digby (1896 - 1962)

Author
Royal College of Surgeons of England

Identifier
RCS: E004950

Publisher
London : Royal College of Surgeons of England

Publication Date
2014-02-03

Subject
Medical Obituaries

Description
Obituary for Chamberlain, Digby (1896 - 1962), Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of England.

Language
English

Source
Plarr's Lives of the Fellows

Full Name
Chamberlain, Digby

Date of Birth
31 July 1896

Date of Death
14 June 1962

Place of Death
Huby

Occupation
General surgeon

Titles/Qualifications
CBE 1962
 
MRCS 9 February 1922
 
FRCS 12 June 1924
 
LRCP 1922
 
Hon FACS 1954
 
MB ChB Leeds 1921
 
ChM 1924

Details
Born on 31 July 1896 son of Digby Chamberlain, he began his medical career at the University of Leeds in 1913. On the outbreak of war in 1914 he interrupted his medical studies to join the Royal Artillery in which he rose to the rank of Major, but in 1917 medical students serving as combatants were recalled to complete their medical studies, owing to the grave shortage of doctors for the services. He qualified in Leeds in 1921, having gained first-class honours in the MB examination and the William Hey gold medal. This was followed by a series of house appointments, including that of house surgeon to Lord Moynihan. He was appointed to the honorary surgical staff in 1927, and for a time also acted as Moynihan's private assistant. In 1937 he was elected full surgeon, and was also consulting surgeon to St James's Hospital, Leeds, Ilkley Coronation Hospital, and Otley General Hospital. He became part-time Professor of Surgery in 1946 and was Emeritus Professor of Clinical Surgery from 1956 to 1962. Chamberlain was a member of Council of the College from 1949 until his death, being Vice-President from 1960, a member of the Court of Examiners from 1949 to 1955, Hunterian Professor in 1940 and Bradshaw lecturer in 1961. His duties as an examiner for the Primary had taken him to Egypt, the Sudan, Pakistan, India, and Ceylon. He was admitted FACS on 14 May 1954 at Leeds while President of the Association of Surgeons, and at the Diploma conferment in the Royal College of Surgeons on 13 June 1962 he proposed the admission of Pietro Valdoni as Hon FRCS. He was President of the Moynihan Club in 1959, its Jubilee year, President of the surgical section of the RSM 1949-50, and an examiner in surgery at the University of Edinburgh 1949-51. Digby Chamberlain had a commanding presence and great natural dignity, without the slightest trace of pomposity. He was a dexterous and unruffled surgeon with superb technique as befitted the last of the Leeds school to have been trained personally by Moynihan. He was a keen shot and gardener, who enjoyed the pleasures of his beautiful home at Huby in which he had collected some fine examples of jade. He married in 1935 Sarah daughter of Edgar Gaunt, of Hawkesley Hall, Guiseley, by whom he had a son and two daughters. Chamberlain died suddenly at his home at Huby in the night of 14/15 June 1962 following his return from a meeting of Council in London during the day. Publications: Duodenal diverticula. *Brit J Surg* 1949, 37, 83. Some Leeds surgeons of the past. *Ann Roy Coll Surg Engl* 1950, 6, 369. The spleen and its removal. *Ann Roy Coll Surg Engl* 1965, 30, 1.

Sources
*The Times* 16 June p WE, 3 Sept 1962 p 12 E
 
*Lancet* 1962,1,1361 with portrait and appreciation by ABP
 
*Brit med J* 1962, 1, 1838 by L N Pyrah and appreciation by Milroy Paul with portrait, and vol 2, p 346 by Prof H Butler of Khartoum
 
*Ann Roy Coll Surg Engl* 1962, 31, 136-138 with portrait
 
*Brit J Surg* 1962, 59, 228-229 with excellent portrait

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/E004000-E004999/E004900-E004999

URL for File
377133

Media Type
Unknown