Weary Dunlop

Decorated War Hero and National Icon

Born 12 July 1907 in Victoria, Edward Dunlop began a course in Pharmacy in 1927, and later changed to Medicine at the University of Melbourne.

Edward Dunlop got given the name ‘Weary’ during his time studying Medicine, named after a tyre company whose name he shared.

After graduating in 1934, Weary worked as a surgeon in several Australian hospitals before moving to London in 1938.

With the beginning of WWII in 1939, Weary joined the army as a medical officer and was sent to several destinations, including Jerusalem, Egypt and Greece before being captured by the Japanese on Java. Weary became a POW in 1942.

In 1943 Dunlop was sent as a POW to Thailand to work on the Burma-Thailand railway. During this time 2650 Australian POW’s died from the harsh conditions. Dunlop worked tirelessly to keep the other men alive, using his medical training to his best advantage. Tropical ulcers and infections were common in the humid, unsanitary conditions.

After the war was over, Dunlop stayed in Asia as a surgeon, working in India, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam. He returned home a respected and decorated war hero, and dedicated the rest of his life caring for former prisoners of war.

In remembrance of the work he did during the war, Dunlop was knighted in 1969. Other honours followed.

Edward ‘Weary’ Dunlop is remembered as an Australian national Icon. When he died in 1993 of pneumonia, more than 10,000 people lined the streets of Melbourne for his state funeral.