Introduction

Custodianship of the World War I Roll of Honour board from the original University Veterinary School reminds us of the rich history of the Faculty of Veterinary Science at The University of Melbourne and its predecessor, W.T. Kendall's Melbourne Veterinary College, the first provider of veterinary education in Australia. Names on this board include many illustrious figures in veterinary science, both nationally and internationally, who taught or who started their veterinary careers as undergraduates here. Brief biographical profiles and published obituaries, where available, provide us, and particularly today's students, with further appreciation of the history of the profession and the achievements of our alumni.

The Roll of Honour was originally located at the Veterinary Research Institute in the University's Veterinary Precinct, Parkville. When the Victorian Department of Agriculture vacated the premises in 1991, the future of the building and the site was uncertain, so the Roll was relocated to the Faculty's Werribee campus to ensure its preservation. With the opening of the Gilruth Library in the VRI building in 2001, the honour board was returned to its original home.

Valuable assistance in locating sources of information on the individuals named in the Roll of Honour and personal contributions from the following colleagues is gratefully acknowledged.