Eric Cuthbert Crichton (1888-1962) was the first professor in obstetrics and gynaecology in South Africa at the University of Cape Town. He was born 18 September 1888 in Yorkshire, but the family moved to Carrowgarry, County Sligo, soon after. He was the great-grandson of the physician Alexander Crichton. He graduated from Trinity College Dublin (M.B., B.Ch.) in 1912. During the First World War he served as an officer with the

Royal Army Medical Corps The Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC) is a specialist corps in the British Army which provides medical services to all Army personnel and their families, in war and in peace. The RAMC, the Royal Army Veterinary Corps, the Royal Army Dental Corps a ...

and saw active service in Egypt and Palestine. He served as medical officer to the 1/5 Suffolk regiment in 1917 when Allenby entered Jerusalem. Crichton was

mentioned in despatches To be mentioned in dispatches (or despatches, MiD) describes a member of the armed forces whose name appears in an official report written by a superior officer and sent to the high command, in which their gallant or meritorious action in the face ...

. He was subsequently adjutant, physician and consultant at the No. 7 Red Cross Hospital in Montazah.Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. (2014
RCOG Roll of Active Service, 1914-1918.
London: Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. p. 3
Archived here.
/ref> It was there that he met Helen Aukett, matron of the Red Cross Hospital. They married on 3 November 1919. They had two children. He was one of three professors who arrived in Cape Town in 1920 to establish the first full medical faculty.

References

1888 births 1962 deaths Academic staff of the University of Cape Town South African obstetricians South African gynaecologists Royal Army Medical Corps officers Suffolk Regiment officers Alumni of Trinity College Dublin {{England-med-bio-stub