David Hugh McCollum
BMJ 2004; 329 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.329.7468.745-c (Published 23 September 2004) Cite this as: BMJ 2004;329:745Data supplement
David Hugh McCollum
Former general practitioner Penkridge, Staffordshire (b Islandeffrick, Coleraine, Northen Ireland, 15 December 1917; q Queen’ University, Belfast, 1940; MC), died quietly aged 86 on 12 May 2004.David McCollum started life the hard way as the youngest of five children in a farming family in Northern Ireland. He survived his childhood belief that a chicken consisted of only the neck and parson’s nose to qualify at Queen’s University in Belfast during the war in 1940. He immediately enlisted in the Royal Army Medical Corps to become a captain in the Cameronians. He was a modest man who never told any of his relatives or friends that he was awarded a Military Cross in the field at Anzio in Italy by General Alexander. Aged 26, after serving in India and Sicily, he was responsible for the triage and evacuation of casualties from the Anzio beachhead. His frontline medical posts were famously dug deep as he appointed Yorkshire miners to his team. The post at Anzio, constantly under heavy shellfire, had been overrun by the Germans and recaptured by the Allies after several days. He had been responsible for the care of both Allied and German wounded alike, but always claimed that he was awarded his MC for dispensing tea with high brandy content to the general. The newspapers in Northern Ireland reported this gallantry so intensely that his family almost believed that he had been awarded two MCs.
After the war he returned to the Royal Maternity Hospital in Belfast, where he met his wife, Jean. They married in July 1947; the start of a long and happy marriage punctuated only by his death this year. After a short time in Leicester as an assistant in general practice, he moved to be a partner in Penkridge, Staffordshire, where he then became singlehanded for 15 years. He established one of the first health centres in the area and was one of the first GP trainers in the Midlands. David lived a modest and happy family life. He had a keen sense of humour and acquired a contentment derived from a quiet pride in his many successes. He was enthusiastic rather than talented at squash and tennis, which he continued to play until his 70s. He passed his enthusiasm in sport to his four sons and seven grandchildren, who survive him but who have never had to eat a parson’s nose! [Charles N McCollum]
See more
- Introductory AddressProv Med Surg J October 03, 1840, s1-1 (1) 1-4; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.s1-1.1.1
- Report of the Meeting of the Eastern Branch of the Provincial Association at Bury St. Edmond'sProv Med Surg J October 03, 1840, s1-1 (1) 10-13; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.s1-1.1.10
- Mr. Warburton's Bill for the Regulation of the Medical ProfessionProv Med Surg J October 03, 1840, s1-1 (1) 13-15; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.s1-1.1.13
- An Atlas of Plates, illustrative of the Principles and Practice of Obstetric Medicine and Surgery, with descriptive LetterpressProv Med Surg J October 03, 1840, s1-1 (1) 4; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.s1-1.1.4
- A Practical Treatise on the Diseases peculiar to Women, illustrated by Cases, &cProv Med Surg J October 03, 1840, s1-1 (1) 4-5; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.s1-1.1.4-a