Koloman Kropach

Former general practitioner, London (b Witzniz, Austria, 1912; q Vienna 1937), d 7 November 2002.

Koloman Kropach, known as Karl, left Austria just before Hitler invaded in August 1938, intending to join his brother in Iraq. His adventurous journey took a month. He learnt Arabic and worked for a drug company before he was deported to Palestine in 1941. British intelligence evacuated him on to a troop ship to a camp where his skills were used treating enteritis, malaria, and meningitis. He joined the Royal Army Medical Corps in 1943 and served for five years in Somalia. He was a registrar at Paddington Hospital, London, before entering general practice. He enjoyed travel and died suddenly on holiday in Tenerife. He leaves a wife, Delia; two children; and six grandchildren.