Allan Gordon Cumming
Gordon was born in Dunedin, South Island, New Zealand on July 1, 1910. He was educated at Otago Boys' High School; graduated in Medicine from Otago University in 1933 with medals in medicine and clinical medicine (MBChB - Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery). Gordon was a House Surgeon at Dunedin Hospital in 1934-5 and then went to London where he studied obstetrics and gynaecology. He was awarded the MRCOG (Membership Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists) in 1939 and volunteered for the Navy in 1940. Around the same time he married Molly Bellerby.
He was appointed to the Armed Merchant Cruiser Rawalpindi, but asked to be transferred to destroyers. The Rawalpindi was sunk by two German battle cruisers on 21 November 1940 with all by 38 of her crew. He served on the Russian convoys with their notorious winter voyages close to the Arctic Circle. He served on HMS Badger, the minesweeper base, Harwich, from August 14, 1940 to February 1942; the destroyer HMS Campbell from February 11, 1942 to April 1943; HMS Peewit the RN Air Station at East Haven, Angus from May 1, 1943 to December 1943.
He transferred to the Royal New Zealand Navy and served in the Pacific on the Cruiser Gambia with a crew of 900 men from January 17, 1944 to April 1946. Onboard were also three gynaecologists including Pat Dunn of Auckland and Reg Hamlin who set up the Fistula Hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia which is now run by his wife, Catherine.
He gained his FRCOG (Fellow Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists) in 1958. Gordon retired from Palmerston North Hospital in 1975. He was President of the Manawatu Division BMA, Member of the National Medical Services Advisory Committee, President of the New Zealand Obstetrical & Gynaecological Society, Council member of the Regional Council of the RCOG attending RCOG Council meetings in London and was a member of the Maternal Deaths Assessment Committee.
He was a member of the Palmerston Hospial Board 1968-74, Chairman from 1977 until 1989 and Initial Chairman of Manawatu-Wanganui Area Health Board. In 1978, he was awarded with the Companion to the Queen's Service Order (QSO). He was a member of the New Zealand Nursing Council for many years also. Altogether he served on 9 different national bodies.
As Surgeon to the Manawatu Rugby Union he regularly attended games. He served on many other bodies, including the Returned Services Association and he was Patron of the Ex-Royal Navalmen's Association. Altogether, he served on 11 different local organisations. Gordon was made Camponion to the New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM) in 2001
Molly, his wife, passed away in 1985, Gordon passsed away on May 4, 2005 aged 94, they had a son and two daughters.