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Sir Edward Weary Dunlop was a surgeon in the Australian Army during World War II. Sir Dunlop and his troops were captured
in 1942 and put to work on Death Railway. To commemorate the 50 years since the end of the war, the Weary Dunlop fifty cent
was released. The
Sir Ernest Edward 'Weary' Dunlop was a legend within his own lifetime. Born in Victoria, Australia on the 12th July 1907, he was to become a symbol of greatness through his endeavours. He graduated from Melbourne University in 1934 after studying medicine (Australian War Memorial, 2014) , but he was also an all-round sportsman. He was the champion boxer at his university and represented the national team in rugby. He was commissioned into the Royal Australian Army Medical Corps as Captain and gained the nickname Weary. He became an outstanding doctor and surgeon.
During the second world war he was captured and laboured on the Burma to Thailand railway. It was here that he often risked his own life to save others. He treated the sick and wounded men that were held by the Japanese and made to endure long hours working on the railway. He gained respect in all aspects of his life, even in his early years. After the war had ended, he continued his tireless work for humanity. He forgave his captors and worked to ensure the health of former prisoners of war and their families. His work was duly noted by Australians and he became a hugely respected figure. Indeed, he was awarded the OBE in the United Kingdom and was Australian of the Year in 1976 whilst also receiving honours from Thailand, India and Sri Lanka. There is a statue of him at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Melbourne for all to see.
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