Cruickshank, Eric Kennedy (1914-2007)

Papers relating to the life and career of Eric Cruickshank, including material pertaining to his time as a camp doctor in Changi POW camp during World War Two with some case notes; series of subject files containing articles and off-prints written by Cruickshank and others on various medical subjects, notably diseases prevalent in Jamaica, diseases caused by dietary deficiencies, and medical education; files relating to overseas visits as a WHO representative; MD thesis entitled "A clinical study of beri-beri and the painful feet syndrome"; correspondence whilst at Glasgow University 1970s and other miscellaneous files of correspondence.

1918-1994

23 boxes and 1 oversize folder

The papers are arranged into five sections, as follows:

A. Changi and other POW camp material, 1939-1989

B. Articles and writings by Eric Cruickshank and others, 1918-1994

C. Overseas visits, 1949-1983

D. Correspondence, 1971-1988

E. Other personal and professional material, 1946-1985

The papers were donated to the library at Wellcome Collection in November 2009 by Josephine Cruickshank.

Eric Cruickshank was a physician and academic with interests in nutrition, neurology and medical education. He was born in Dumfries on December 29, 1914 and died on August 8, 2007. He was educated at Aberdeen Grammar School and then at the University of Aberdeen. This was followed by a scholarship at Harvard University. When war was declared in 1939, he joined the RAMC and was posted to Singapore. After the Japanese invaded Malaya, he was mentioned twice in despatches for his courage in helping bring back the wounded. He became a prisoner of war in Changi camp where he treated malnourished and diseased patients in a makeshift hospital. His experience in Singapore helped him write his MD Thesis entitled "A clinical study of beri-beri and the painful feet syndrome", for which he received a gold medal. He returned to the University of Aberdeen as a lecturer, and then became a senior lecturer. After five years there, in 1950, he progressed to become Professor of Medicine and the first Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the University College of the West Indies in Jamaica. He travelled widely as a WHO consultant in both medical education and nutrition. In 1961, he was appointed an OBE. Later in his career in 1972, he moved back to Scotland to take up the post of Professor of Postgraduate Medical Education at the University of Glasgow.

Biographical information on Eric Cruickshank in the collection is contained in file PP/EKC/E/3.

Further biographical information can be found in E K Cruickshank's obituaries in the West Indian Medical Journal, Vol 56, No 4, Mona Sep 2007, Herald Scotland online 25 Oct 2007, and the University of Glasgow website (Home > University of Glasgow Story > People > Eric Cruickshank).

This collection has been catalogued and is available to library members. Some items have access restrictions which are explained in the item-level catalogue records.