Henry Speldewinde de Boer
Encyclopedia
Captain Dr Henry Speldewinde de Boer, CMG, MC
(1896–1957) was a Ceylonese born British
colonial
doctor
. He was the former Director of Medical Services in Uganda
and Nyasaland
as well as being elected as County Councillor for the Hemel Hempstead division of Hertfordshire
.
Born in Colombo
, Ceylon, he was educated at the prestigious Royal College Colombo
and went on to England for medical studies at the London Hospital. There he gained his MRCS
and LRCP in 1913. With the out break of World War I
he joined the British Army
and was commissioned as a temporary
Lieutenant
on 12th January 1915 in the Royal Army Medical Corps
. He served in the Gallipoli Campaign with the 1st Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers, during which he was wounded. During the war he received the Military Cross
in 1918 and was mentioned in dispatches
. He resigned from his commissioned with the rank of Captain in 1920 and gain a Diploma of Public Health from the University of Cambridge
.
Entering the Colonial Medical Service, as a medical officer in Kenya. In 1923, he returned to London to gain his DTM&H
. Thereafter he was appointed a senior health officer in East Africa in 1926, serving in Kisumu
and Mombasa
. In the former he was the local tennis champion. Moving to Northern Rhodesia
in 1931 on his appointment as Deputy Director of Sanitary Services and two years later he became the Deputy Director of Medical Services in Uganda. In 1938 he was appointed as Director of Medical Services in Nyasaland where he stayed till 1942. Thereafter he returned to Uganda as Director of Medical Services, holding the post till 1947 when he retired. In Kisumu a street as well as a mosquito, Aedes de boeri is named after him. From 1938 to 1939 he was the President of the Nyasaland Branch of the British Medical Association
and was made a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George in 1945. He retired to England and became a temporary medical officer at the Ministry of Health, later being appointed airport medical officer at Northolt
. He was also elected as County Councillor for the Hemel Hempstead division of Hertfordshire
. He died in Hemel Hempstead
in 1957.
He married Frances Ethel Bartholomeusz in 1920 daughter of John Oliver Bartholomeusz, Assistant Colonial Surgeon. They had two sons with one becoming a doctor.
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
(1896–1957) was a Ceylonese born British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
colonial
Colonial
Colonial or The Colonial may refer to:* Colonial, of, relating to, or characteristic of a colony* Colonial history of the United States, the period of American history from the 17th century to 1776, under the rule of Great Britain, France and Spain...
doctor
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
. He was the former Director of Medical Services in Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
and Nyasaland
Nyasaland
Nyasaland or the Nyasaland Protectorate, was a British protectorate located in Africa, which was established in 1907 when the former British Central Africa Protectorate changed its name. Since 1964, it has been known as Malawi....
as well as being elected as County Councillor for the Hemel Hempstead division of Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
.
Born in Colombo
Colombo
Colombo is the largest city of Sri Lanka. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, the capital of Sri Lanka. Colombo is often referred to as the capital of the country, since Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte is a satellite city of Colombo...
, Ceylon, he was educated at the prestigious Royal College Colombo
Royal College Colombo
The Royal College of Colombo was founded in January 1835 in Colombo. It is considered to be the leading Public School in Sri Lanka...
and went on to England for medical studies at the London Hospital. There he gained his MRCS
MRCS
MRCS can refer to:*Malaysian Red Crescent Society*Membership of the Royal College of Surgeons...
and LRCP in 1913. With the out break of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
he joined the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
and was commissioned as a temporary
Temporary
Temporary may refer to:Computing* Temporary variable* Temporary file* Temporary folder* Temporary filesystemOther uses* Temporary work, a common working arrangement...
Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
on 12th January 1915 in the Royal Army Medical Corps
Royal Army Medical Corps
The Royal Army Medical Corps is a specialist corps in the British Army which provides medical services to all British Army personnel and their families in war and in peace...
. He served in the Gallipoli Campaign with the 1st Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers, during which he was wounded. During the war he received the Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
in 1918 and was mentioned in dispatches
Mentioned in Dispatches
A soldier Mentioned in Despatches is one whose name appears in an official report written by a superior officer and sent to the high command, in which is described the soldier's gallant or meritorious action in the face of the enemy.In a number of countries, a soldier's name must be mentioned in...
. He resigned from his commissioned with the rank of Captain in 1920 and gain a Diploma of Public Health from the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
.
Entering the Colonial Medical Service, as a medical officer in Kenya. In 1923, he returned to London to gain his DTM&H
DTM&H
DTM&H stands for Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. It is a postgraduate award, given after a prescribed period of instruction followed by an examination consisting of three parts; a written examination a practical laboratory examination and an oral examination. In some schools, a fourth...
. Thereafter he was appointed a senior health officer in East Africa in 1926, serving in Kisumu
Kisumu
Kisumu is a port city in western Kenya at , with a population of 355,024 . It is the third largest city in Kenya, the principal city of western Kenya, the immediate former capital of Nyanza Province and the headquarters of Kisumu County. It has a municipal charter but no city charter...
and Mombasa
Mombasa
Mombasa is the second-largest city in Kenya. Lying next to the Indian Ocean, it has a major port and an international airport. The city also serves as the centre of the coastal tourism industry....
. In the former he was the local tennis champion. Moving to Northern Rhodesia
Northern Rhodesia
Northern Rhodesia was a territory in south central Africa, formed in 1911. It became independent in 1964 as Zambia.It was initially administered under charter by the British South Africa Company and formed by it in 1911 by amalgamating North-Western Rhodesia and North-Eastern Rhodesia...
in 1931 on his appointment as Deputy Director of Sanitary Services and two years later he became the Deputy Director of Medical Services in Uganda. In 1938 he was appointed as Director of Medical Services in Nyasaland where he stayed till 1942. Thereafter he returned to Uganda as Director of Medical Services, holding the post till 1947 when he retired. In Kisumu a street as well as a mosquito, Aedes de boeri is named after him. From 1938 to 1939 he was the President of the Nyasaland Branch of the British Medical Association
British Medical Association
The British Medical Association is the professional association and registered trade union for doctors in the United Kingdom. The association does not regulate or certify doctors, a responsibility which lies with the General Medical Council. The association’s headquarters are located in BMA House,...
and was made a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George in 1945. He retired to England and became a temporary medical officer at the Ministry of Health, later being appointed airport medical officer at Northolt
Northolt
Northolt is a town in the London Borough of Ealing, England. The town has London Underground and Network Rail stations and is on the A40 road...
. He was also elected as County Councillor for the Hemel Hempstead division of Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
. He died in Hemel Hempstead
Hemel Hempstead
Hemel Hempstead is a town in Hertfordshire in the East of England, to the north west of London and part of the Greater London Urban Area. The population at the 2001 Census was 81,143 ....
in 1957.
He married Frances Ethel Bartholomeusz in 1920 daughter of John Oliver Bartholomeusz, Assistant Colonial Surgeon. They had two sons with one becoming a doctor.