Medical Officers
Of the Malta Garrison
John Henry Gouldsbury
Devenish Meares
1835 – 1877

No 519 Assistant Surgeon John Henry Gouldsbury Devenish Meares

LRCSI (1855) LKQCPI (1859)

29 Jan 1835 [Co Westmeath] – 15 Jan 1877 [Dublin]

Surgeon John Henry Gouldsbury Devenish Meares qualified a Licentiate of the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland in 1855 and shortly after entered the Army Medical Department as an Assistant Surgeon.

In 1856 – 1857, he served in the 59th Regiment in medical charge of the troops during the operations before and bombardment of Canton by the Royal Navy under Sir Michael Seymour (medal).

Service Record

John H G Meares
Assistant Surgeon John Henry Gouldsbury Meares RE
(Lt Col Foster's collection of Netley photos - courtesy AMS archives)

16 May 1855 Acting Assistant Surgeon.

24 Oct 1856 Assistant Surgeon 59th (2nd Nottinghamshire) Regiment of Foot vice Assistant Surgeon Thomas Connor O'Leary promoted to 68th Foot.

1856–57 Served in China.

28 May 1858 Assistant Surgeon 2nd/20th (East Devonshire) Regiment of Foot.

8 July 1862 Assistant Surgeon Royal Engineers. The vacancy in the 2nd/20th created by the move of Assistant Surgeon Meares was filled by Staff Assistant Surgeon Richard Armstrong Hyde.

Malta 13 Apr 1867 Arrived from England.

Malta 9 Aug 1868 To England on private leave.

Malta 30 Sep 1868 Promoted Staff Surgeon Army Medical Department from Royal Engineers (Malta).

Malta 10 Oct 1868 Returned to Malta.

Malta 12 Dec 1868 Returned to England.

1869 On duty in Aberdeen.

19 Feb 1870 Appointed Surgeon 82nd (Prince of Wales's Volunteers) Regiment of Foot vice Surgeon Major Henry Day Fowler, appointed to the Staff. Served as their medical officer until 1877.

16 May 1875 Promoted Surgeon-Major Army Medical Department.

15 Jan 1877 Died in Dublin aged 41 years having completed 22 years' service on full pay.

Bibliography