Cyril Jacob Kaplan

Born in Durban, In 1940, during the final year of his medical studies at the University of Cape Town, Cyril Kaplan served as a volunteer gunner in the University Company of the Cape Garrison Artillery. He followed his house officer training by enlistment in 1942 in the South African Medical Corps. At Oribi Military Hospital he developed an interest in orthopaedics under Arthur Eyre-Brooks, treating wounded allied soldiers and Italian prisoners of war, before being posted to North Africa. Visiting Palestine on leave, he found himself attracted to the communal nature of kibbutz life, managing to divert to local doctors some medical equipment from captured German stores. He was …