Robert Dunlop Black Frew

In his first year and second years at the University he took classes in Chemistry, Zoology and Physics. In his third year he went on to study Anatomy, Physiology and Materia Medica, followed by Pathology and Medical Jurisprudence in his fourth year. During his studies Robert was awarded certificates for his work in Practical Physiology and Practical Pathology. He sat his final Medical exams in 1908, graduating from the University MB ChB on the 18th December 1908.

He would soon return to the University and produce his thesis entitled ‘The control of post scarlatinal diphtheria, with special reference to the "carrier" problem in diphtheria’, for which he was awarded an MD in 1912 and in 1914 Robert took his Diploma in Public Health at the Victoria University, Manchester.

Following his successful studies Robert went on to work as a House Surgeon at the Glasgow Royal Infirmary, as an Assistant Medical officer at the Monsall Fever Hospital in Manchester and as the Resident Medical Officer at the Manchester Consumption Hospital.

Following these posts he moved to Cheshire to work as the Tuberculosis Officer at Mill Lane Hospital in the Borough of Wallasey, where it is said that, ‘his kindly and happy disposition made him a great favourite with everyone… he was honoured and beloved by the whole staff, and by all the patients who passed through his hands’.

At the outbreak of war Robert joined the 3rd West Lancashire Field Ambulance as Lieutenant on the 14th May 1914 and was promoted to Captain on completion of one years mobilized service.

In August 1916 he was wounded whilst serving on the Western Front and was forced to return home for a short time, soon returning to the front line. Captain Robert Dunlop Black Frew was killed in action a short time later on the 3rd August 1917 near Ypres and laid to rest at Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery in Belgium. He was 31 years old.