Colonel William Melville McCutcheon 
Biography of Colonel William Melville McCutcheon
William Melville McCutcheon graduated from the University of Glasgow MB ChB in 1935 and DPH in 1938. He was born on 24 November 1911 in Saltcoats, Ayrshire, son of William, a teacher. He became a very active and distinguished doctor and Medical Officer.
During his medical studies at Glasgow, McCutcheon won two prizes: a second-class certificate for Diseases of the ear, nose and throat (Western Infirmary), by lecturer Gavin Young, in the winter session of 1933-4, and a second-class certificate in Dermatology (Western Infirmary), by lecturer Joseph Goodwin Tomkinson, in the winter session of 1933-4.
After obtaining the Diploma in Public Health in 1938, McCutcheon embarked on his successful medical career in the military. He was appointed Lieutenant in the Indian Medical Service in Rawalpindi in 1939 and Anti-Malaria Officer in 1940. In 1941, he became Medical Officer-in-Charge at the Indian Medical Hospital in Abbottabadand.
From 1941 to 1944, he was Assistant Director of Hygiene in Iraq and Iran. Subsequently he held posts of Assistant Deputy and Deputy Director of Hygiene in Agra and Maj (1944-1945); in the South East Asia Command and General HQ of India (1945-1946); and in the Delhi District (1946-1947).
In 1947 he was transferred to the Royal Army Medical Corps in the UK where he was appointed Deputy Assistant Director of Army Health in the South West District (1947-1949), and then to HQ Canal South District in Egypt in 1949.
McCutcheon was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in 1954, and was made Assistant Professor in Army Health at the Royal Army Medical College from 1954 to 1957.
His career continued with the post of Entomologist in the School of Health in Far East Land Forces in Singapore (1957) and as Senior Instructor in the Army School of Health in Ashvale (1961).
He was made Colonel in 1961, and in 1963, a Consultant in Army Health. He was made Chief Medical Officer in Cyprus in 1964 and Deputy Director of Army Health in the Far East Land Forces in Singapore in 1965. His final post came in 1967 as Assistant Director of Army Health in the Ministry of Defence.
McCutcheon retired in 1971, and died in 1983.
Sources
Other Online Resources
Archival Materials
- Bachelor of medicine and bachelor of surgery of the university of glasgow 1897-1947, R1/4/2
- Register of Members of The General Council of the University of Glasgow, 1st January 1940 DC183/11/65
- University of Glasgow Dates of Birth of Graduates and Members of General Council Volume XI R3/1/9
- University of Glasgow Roll of Graduates 1928-1937 R3/2/3
Summary
Colonel William Melville McCutcheon
Born 24 November 1911.
Died 1983.
GU Degrees: MB ChB, 1935; Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, DPH, 1938;
University Link: Graduate
Occupation categories: entomologists; military; surgeons
View Major Archive Collection Record
English snippet: Medical graduate of the University of Glasgow in 1935Record last updated: 29th Oct 2014
Country Associations
Scotland, Ayrshire, Saltcoats
Place of Birth
Australia, Maralinga
Cyprus, No Region
Egypt, No Region
India, Rawalpindi
Iran, Islamic Republic of, Kermanshah, Kermanshah
Iraq, No Region
Pakistan, Abbottabad
Singapore, No Region
University Connections
University Roles
- Graduate