Surgeon General John Andrews Woolfryes

Surgeon General John Andrews Woolfryes

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Grave.  Wells Cemetery, Wells, Somerset, England[/center]

John Andrew Wollfreys was born in Salisbury on 14.06.1823 and qualified as a M.D. at St. Andrews in 1859. He entered the Army as an Assistant Surgeon in the 71st Foot in 1847, transferring to the Royal Canadian Rifle Regiment in 1850 and the 10th Foot in 1852. He was appointed Staff Surgeon 2nd Class in 1855 and Staff Surgeon Major in 1867. Woolfreys served in the second phase of the Ashantee War of 1973-74 as Principal Medical Officer, for which he received special promotion to Deputy Surgeon General in April 1874. He again served as Principal Medical Officer at the Cape in the Galeka and Gaika Rebellions 1877-78, and again in Natal during the Sekukuni and Zulu Wars 1878-79. For his services in the Zulu War he was awarded the C.B. in 1879, in the following year he was awarded the C.M.G. In 1880 he was promoted to Surgeon General, then in 1899 he was appointed Honorary Physician to Queen Victoria, then to King Edward VII in 1902 and George V in 1911. He was created Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in 1902. Sir John Woolfreys died at Wells, Somerset on 12th January 1912.

See:Pictorial catalogue of AZW graves

John Andrew Wollfreys was born in Salisbury on 14.06.1823 and qualified as a M.D. at St. Andrews in 1859. He entered the Army as an Assistant Surgeon in the 71st Foot in 1847, transferring to the Royal Canadian Rifle Regiment in 1850 and the 10th Foot in 1852. He was appointed Staff Surgeon 2nd Class in 1855 and Staff Surgeon Major in 1867. Woolfreys served in the second phase of the Ashantee War of 1973-74 as Principal Medical Officer, for which he received special promotion to Deputy Surgeon General in April 1874. He again served as Principal Medical Officer at the Cape in the Galeka and Gaika Rebellions 1877-78, and again in Natal during the Sekukuni and Zulu Wars 1878-79. For his services in the Zulu War he was awarded the C.B. in 1879, in the following year he was awarded the C.M.G. In 1880 he was promoted to Surgeon General, then in 1899 he was appointed Honorary Physician to Queen Victoria, then to King Edward VII in 1902 and George V in 1911. He was created Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in 1902. Sir John Woolfreys died at Wells, Somerset on 12th January 1912.

Surgeon-General J. A. Woofryes, M.D., C.B., C.M.G., Experiences Principal Medical Officer of the Force in the Zulu War, 1877, . e J
thus writes :

" The question of ambulances caused some anxiety. In the Cape Colony campaign the ordinary ox wagons were used, fitted with a framework called a cartel, having springs, and slung inside the body of the wagon. A number of these cartels had been forwarded to Natal, but it was found that the wagons of this colony were of a different pattern, and were not sufficiently wide to receive them. As ambulances* were required without delay, travelling wagons with springs, such as are used by the better class of colonists, were brought up and converted into ambulances, but only a few of them could be obtained. Therefore, five store wagons with springs were procured from the Ordnance Department, and these were adapted to the purpose. As the war assumed greater proportions, however, more ambulances were required, and it was
only after some difficulty that a tradesman could be found who engaged to complete and hand over one every fortnight. He constructed 12, which proved to be most serviceable. They were ordinary wagons of the country, each having on its floor a platform resting on six stout carriage springs, three on either side, leaving a space of some 18 inches between the floor and the platform. On the platform behind were arranged three hospital stretchers abreast for lying-down patients, and in front a double row of seats, back to back, for fourteen patients sitting up. A double tent covered the whole length of the wagon, and there was ample circulation of air through the open sides, while canvas curtains excluded the rain. The men's kits and rifles, with tents for use on the road, and cooking utensils, were carried in the space between the two floors. The length of the vehicle made its motion easier over the rough roads, and the jolting was counteracted by the springs most satisfactorily." (A.M.D. Reports, 1879.)

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Image by forum member Littlehand.

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John Andrew Woolfryes. (Lt Col Foster's collection of Netley photos - courtesy AMS archives)

"Surgeon John Andrew Woolfryes served in the Ashanti War of 1873–1874, part of the time as Principal Medical Officer. He was at the Battles of Amoaful and Ordahsu and the capture of Coomassie. He was mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 7 March 1874) and promoted Deputy Surgeon General. He received the medal with clasp.

In 1877–1879, Surgeon John Andrew Woolfryes served in South Africa as Principal Medical Officer during the Kaffir Campaign. He took part in operations against the Galekas and Gaikas, was present in the attack on the Intaba Ka Udoda and Bashee. He was mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 26 February 1878) and was made CB.

Surgeon John Andrew Woolfryes was also in the Zulu Campaign. “He was occupied in Natal for many months before the declaration of war in making preparations for the campaign under considerable local difficulties. He was uninterruptedly in medical charge, both during the anxious time of disaster and defeat, and when the subsequent arrival of reinforcements rendered him responsible for the medical care of nearly 20,000 men”. He was present in operations against Sekukuni. He was mentioned in despatches, received the Medal with clasp and was appointed CMG.

Surgeon John Andrew Woolfryes published:
◾The war in Zululand. AMD Report Vol XXI (1879).
•The medical history of the Galeka - The Gaika War of 1877–1878. AMD Report Vol XX (1878).


Service Record — John Andrew Woolfryes

13 July 1847 Appointed Assistant Surgeon 71st (Highland) Light Infantry vice Assistant Surgeon James Johnston promoted surgeon to 26th Foot, vice Stewart who moved to the Staff.

24 Sept 1850 Assistant Surgeon Royal Canadian Rifle Regiment.

25 June 1852 Assistant Surgeon 10th (North Lincolnshire) Regiment of Foot.

20 July 1855 Promoted Staff Surgeon of the 2nd Class from 1st/10th Foot.

Malta 8 Nov 1855 Arrived from England.

Malta 18 July 1856 Left for England.

26 Nov 1856 Placed on half-pay.

20 Feb 1857 Recalled from half-pay and appointed Surgeon Military Train.

22 Nov 1864 Exchanged with Staff Surgeon Ormsby Bowen Miller.

1865–1866 In China.

1867 In China and Winchester.

7 Oct 1867 Staff Surgeon Major.

1868 In Winchester and Dublin.

1869 In Dublin and Suez.

1870–1871 In Suez.

1872 In Suez and York.

1 Mar 1873 Surgeon Major Army Medical Department.

1873 At Shorncliffe and Gold Coast.

31 Mar 1874 Replaced Sir Anthony Horne as PMO of the Ashanti Expedition to the Gold Coast of Africa. He was specially promoted for meritorious services against the Ashantis (1873–1874).

1 Apr 1874 Promoted Deputy Surgeon General.

1875 In Portsmouth from Gold Coast.

1876 In Portsmouth and Devonport.

1877–1880 In Devonport and the Cape.

1877–1879 Served in the Zulu Wars South Africa as the Principal Medical Officer.

26 Nov 1878 Appointed an Ordinary Member of the Military Division of the 3rd Class, or Companion of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath for his services during the Zulu Wars.

28 Jan 1879 Granted local rank of Surgeon General while serving as PMO at the Cape of Good Hope.

1880 On Home Service from the Cape.

May 1880–1881 In Portsmouth.

23 June 1880 The local rank of Surgeon General which was granted on 28 January 1879 was converted into temporary rank of Surgeon-General, but without pay or allowances.

14 June 1883 Placed on retired pay.

18 Jan 1899 Appointed Honorary Physician to Queen Victoria vice Surgeon-General Alexander Smith who died on 25 November 1898.

26 June 1902 Promoted Knight Commander of the Bath."

Source:maltaramc

His Medals were sold in December 2006 for £5200.00

The K.C.B., C.M.G. group of five awarded to Surgeon General Sir John Andrews Woolfreys, M.D., Army Medical Department, Principal Medical Officer during the Ashantee and Zulu Wars The Most Honourable Order of The Bath, K.C.B. (Military) Knight Commander’s set of insignia, neck badge, silver-gilt and enamel; breast star, silver, silver-gilt and enamel, in Garrard, London case of issue; The Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, C.M.G., Companion’s breast badge, gold and enamel, with gold swivel ring and straight bar suspension and gold buckle on ribbon; Coronation 1902, silver; Ashantee 1873-74, 1 clasp, Coomassie (Dy. Surgn. Genl., M.D., 1873-4); South Africa 1877-79, 1 clasp, 1877-8-9 (Surgn. Genl., M.D., C.B., C.M.G., A.M.D.), last four mounted for display, good very fine and better (6) £3500-4000

Up-Dated.