Born in Auckland, New Zealand, 24 August 1881, son of Casement Aickin, merchant, and Elizabeth Mitchell Garde his wife. Aickin came of a medical family on both sides, for his mother was the daughter of Thomas Garde, MD and his grandfather Thomas Leland Aickin was MD of Trinity College, Dublin and FRCSI. Casement Aickin was educated at the Auckland Boys' Grammar School, where he won a university junior scholarship which enabled him to enter Auckland University College.
Here he gained the College premium for physics at the end of his first year, and matriculated at the University of Otago with a senior university scholarship. He became resident medical officer at the Auckland Hospital, holding office for four years, and then took a postgraduate course in England. On his return to New Zealand he was appointed in 1913 honorary surgeon to the Auckland Hospital, a post he resigned in 1927 when he was elected a consulting surgeon. During the European war of 1914-18 he received a commission as captain in the New Zealand Medical Corps, and commenced duty on 7 November 1916, serving overseas for two years and sixty-five days. He then returned to his surgical practice, and in 1933 was elected president of the New Zealand branch of the British Medical Association. He was a foundation Fellow of the Australasian, and Fellow of the American, College of Surgeons.
He married Catherine Broun on 12 April 1909. She was daughter of Thomas Broun, lieutenant, 35th Royal Sussex Regiment and afterwards major, of Waikatos, NZ. She survived him with two sons and a daughter. He died at Auckland on 12 November 1936 and was buried in Avondale cemetery, Auckland.
Aickin had a large surgical practice in Auckland and was held in high esteem by all with whom he was brought into contact. He is described as being kindly, ready to understand the difficulties of his colleagues, loyal and possessed of infinite tact.
Author: Royal College of Surgeons of England
Sources:
NZ med J. 1936, 35, 241, with p
Public - Michael - Direct descendant - 7 February 2024 - Royal Colloge of Surgeons of England Plarr’s Lives of the Fellows