David Wallace was born on 14 July 1862, in Scoonie, Fife, Scotland. He was the son of David Wallace and his wife Annie of Balgrummo, Leven, Fife. He was educated at Dollar Academy going on to Edinburgh University medical school and graduating MB, CM from the University of Edinburgh in 1884. After posts in the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh as house surgeon under Professor John Chiene and house physician under Professor John Wylie, he trained as a surgeon, initially working as a demonstrator in anatomy. He then trained for some years under Professor Chiene and it was at this time that his interest in urological surgery developed. He passed the examinations to become M.R.C.S. Eng. in 1886 and the next year became a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. He became assistant surgeon in the RIE In 1892.
War service
Wallace saw service in the Boer War as Surgeon in charge of the Edinburgh Hospital in South Africa. This 100-bed hospital opened at Norvalspont in the Northern Cape in May 1890. It remained in service until October 1891, when it was given over to Government. During this campaign Wallace was mentioned in despatches, was awarded the South African Medal and clasp and was appointed to the Order of St Michael and St George. His wartime experience had shown him the importance of the British Red Cross Society and he was instrumental in founding the Edinburgh branch and was to become its Honorary Secretary or Chairman for more than 30 years. In 1908 he joined the recently formed Territorial Force, and, along with several other RIE surgeons, including Sir Joseph Cotterill, Charles W Cathcart, George A Berry and Alexis Thomson, he was a member of the surgical staff of the 2nd Scottish General Hospital at Craigleith. The hospital was mobilised in 1914, but it was felt that because of his knowledge and experience of the Red Cross Society, he could make a greater contribution to the war effort by working in that organisation. He was Red Cross Commissioner for South East Scotland, a post regarded by many as more demanding than an Army command. This involved organising and supervising the many convalescent homes which had been established in south-east Scotland.
Later career
Wallace had been appointed surgeon in charge of wards in 1908 and held this post for the standard fifteen years. In 1923 he became consulting surgeon. Although a general surgeon he had developed an interest in urological surgery from an early stage. He was regarded as a popular surgical teacher attracting large numbers of students to his surgical classes. After retiring from the RIE he became for many years surgeon to the Edinburgh Hospitals for Incurables, later Longmore Hospital. He died in 1952.
