| Basil Laver | |
| Birth Date: | 18 December 1894 |
| Birth Place: | Middelburg, Transvaal, South Africa |
| Death Place: | Northampton, England |
Basil Laver (18 December 1894 – 28 December 1934), was a British surgeon whose highly successful career was cut short through illness.[1] [2] [3] Laver's obituary in the British Medical Journal commented on his 'dynamic energy and capacity for work, his acute inquisitiveness of mind, and his absolute intolerance of shibboleths of medicine'.[3]
Basil Leslie Laver was born 18 December 1894 at Witfoot, Middelburg, Transvaal, South Africa, the third of the three sons of Henry Laver, merchant of Middelburg.[2] [1] [3] Laver’s parents came originally from Southampton and he received his formal education at Bedford Modern School and medical education at Guy's Hospital.[1] [2] [3]
During World War I he received a commission on 27 February 1915 as second-lieutenant in the Royal Field Artillery, and was subsequently adjutant and temporary major.[1] [2] [3]
Laver returned to Guy's Hospital at the end of World War I, qualified, won the Arthur Durham scholarship and served as surgical registrar and assistant surgical tutor.[1] [2] [3] Laver then settled at Northampton, where he was elected assistant surgeon to the General Hospital on 22 February 1927, becoming surgeon on 28 April 1931.[1] [2] [3] He was also consulting surgeon to the Stamford and Rutland General Infirmary.[1] [2] [3]
On 21 April 1928 Laver married Margaret Joyce Crockett, granddaughter of Sir James Crockett of Northampton who was the co-founder of Crockett & Jones.[1] [2] [3] [4] Laver died in Northampton on 28 December 1934 and his ashes were buried in Southampton.[1] [2] [3] His wife and daughter survived him.[1] [2] [3]