William John Vickers

William John Vickers (21 March 1898 – 8 November 1979) was a British physician who served as Director of Medical Services of Singapore from 1946 to 1954.

Early life and education Vickers was born on 21 March 1898, the son of William Vickers. He was educated privately and at University of Birmingham Medical School. In 1938, he was called to the bar by the Inner Temple.

Career Vickers served in the European War with the Royal Fleet Auxiliary from 1917 to 1919 with the rank of 2nd Lieutenant. He served as resident medical officer at General Hospital, Birmingham from 1923 to 1925. In 1925, he joined the Colonial Medical Service as medical officer in District Hospital, Kuala Lumpur. He then served as medical and health officer in various posts including Senior Health Officer, Kedah, in charge of the health of State, where he was active in the control of health measures on estates; control of communicable diseases; anti-malarial measures, and setting of sanitary standards.

After leaving Malaya in 1938, he took a year off and was called to the bar by the Inner Temple. He then went to Palestine where he served until 1944 as Senior Medical Officer and Deputy Director of Medical Services. From 1944 to 1945, he served in British West Indies as Adviser on Human Nutrition to the Development and Welfare Organisation.

After retiring to England, he served as Deputy Coroner for East Staffordshire and County Borough of Burton-on-Trent from 1959 to 1974. A nutritional economic survey of wartime Palestine, 1942-1943.

Personal Life and death Vickers married Elizabeth Jackson in 1939 and they had a son and a daughter. He was appointed Officer of the Order of St John in 1951.