Disher, Harold Clive

Description

Agent TypePersonIdentifierUMA-AG-000000146Place of BirthRosedale, VictoriaPlace of DeathSale, VictoriaActivities & OccupationsGraziersFarmersEarly settlersGenderMaleHistoryHarold Clive Disher was born in Rosedale, Victoria, on 15 October 1891. He was the third and youngest child of Henry Robert Disher, a grazier, and his wife Mary Louise née Hagenauer. He was educated at Rosedale State School, Gippsland College in Sale, Victoria, and Scotch College, Melbourne, where he rowed for the school team in the Head of the River regatta on the Yarra River in 1910 and Barwon River in 1911. He also served in the school's Australian Army Cadets unit. He rowed in the six seat of the Victorian state eight selected to contest the Australian interstate championships of 1914.He entered Ormond College at the University of Melbourne, where he studied medicine, and was awarded his dual Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) degrees in 1916.
Disher enlisted in the First AIF on 13 July 1917, and was commissioned as a Captain. He embarked for Europe aboard HMAT Themistocles on 4 August 1917, and arrived at Glasgow on 2 October 1917. On 28 October 1917 he was sent to the Western Front, where he was assigned to the 5th Field Ambulance. On 16 March 1918 he was attached to the 4th Field Artillery Brigade as its Regimental Medical Officer (RMO).
In March 1919, he was given leave to row in the AIF eight in the Henley Royal Peace Regatta. They won the King's Cup, defeating the Oxford University team in the final by a length. Disher received the 1919 Helms Award for the most outstanding amateur athlete from Australasia. He also took the opportunity for postgraduate study at hospitals in the UK under the Inter-Allied Fellowship of Medicine scheme from 23 July to 23 October 1919. He returned to Australia on the SS Nestor on 1 November 1919, where his AIF appointment was terminated on 22 January 1920.
Disher joined the Second AIF as a colonel on 8 December 1939, and was allocated the AIF service number VX294. Five days later he embarked for the Middle East on the SS Strathallan as part of the AIF Advance Party. He was ADMS of the AIF Advance Base until 4 April 1940, when he became ADMS of the 6th Division. He was awarded the Efficiency Decoration on 20 June 1940. He was in charge of the medical arrangements for the Battle of Bardia, for which he was mentioned in despatches, and made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire on 4 July 1941.
After serving in the Battle of Greece in April and May 1941, Disher embarked for Australia on 1 August 1941, where he became ADMS of the 1st Armoured Division. He was promoted to brigadier on 6 April 1942, and became Deputy Director of Medical Services (DDMS) of II Corps on 14 April 1942. On 30 November 1942 he took over as DDMS of New Guinea Force. As such, he was in charge of the medical arrangements during the Battle of Buna-Gona. He returned to Australia on 13 July 1943, and became Director of Medical Services (DMS) of the First Army. He relinquished that appointment on 6 September 1944, and went on leave without pay. His AIF appointment was terminated on 21 June 1945, and he was transferred to the Reserve of Officers as a brigadier.
After the war, Disher retired from medicine and moved to an 800-hectare (2,000-acre) sheep and cattle grazing property "Strathfieldsaye" on the shores of Lake Wellington in Gippsland that his grandfather had acquired in 1869, and of which he had become owner on the death of his father on 31 May 1944. Disher died at Sale on 13 March 1976, and his remains were cremated. He had no children, and his wife died on 8 June 1946. His property "Strathfieldsaye" was left to the University of Melbourne upon his death. The "Strathfieldsaye Estate Bequest" included the land, buildings contents, plant, equipment, stock, cash and securities for the purpose of establishing "The Strathfieldsaye Institute of Teaching and Research in Agriculture and Allied Sciences". Archival records were transferred to the University of Melbourne Archives.
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Dates

Date15/10/1891-13/3/1976

Names

TitleMrGiven NameHaroldMiddle NameCliveFamily NameDisher

Personal Relationships

Involved in EventWorld War IWorld War II

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Member of OrganisationMelbourne University Boat ClubAlma MaterThe University of Melbourne

University of Melbourne Archives

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Disher, Harold Clive