Veterinary education in South Africa: the class of 1924

Veterinary education in South Africa is now more than 80 years old. It started in 1920 when the Onderstepoort Veterinary Faculty was created as an integral part of the Veterinary Research Institute at Onderstepoort. Sir Arnold Theiler, the founder of Onderstepoort, was its first Dean. This article concerns itself with some of the known and lesser known developments and actions associated with the creation of the faculty and how it was possible to provide suitable lecturing staff. This is followed by concise descriptions of the life histories of the first 8 veterinarians who graduated from the new faculty in 1924 and subsequently spent their entire working life in government service.