Neville Charles Starke, veterinarian, was the son of John Isaac Starke and Helen Margaret Jane Wesson. He qualified as a veterinarian (BVSc) in 1926. He then served for 14 years as a Government Veterinary Officer in Bloemfontein, Bethlehem, Pietersburg, Duiwelskloof, Ladysmith and Potchefstroom. During 1932-1933 he assisted in combating an outbreak of foot and mouth disease in Botswana. This experience helped him to be the first to diagnose the disease in Dundee in 1937, thus facilitating its control. From Dundee he was transferred to Durban in 1939, where he remained until he moved to Onderstepoort as lecturer in Animal Management and General Hygiene. He occupied this post until 1948 when he transferred to the Department of Surgery, first as lecturer and later as Professor of Surgery, Gynaecology and Obstetrics. His interest in the sex physiology of animals led to some publications in this field, including "Examination of the bull for fertility" (Journal of the South African Veterinary Association, 1943) and "The sperm picture of rams of different breeds..." (Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Science and Animal Industry, 1949). He retired in 1959 to go farming on his smallholding near Stellenbosch.

Starke married Muriel Charlotte Wilson in Johannesburg in 1929.

List of sources:

Author and Subject Index to the Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Science and Animal Industry (1933-1950) and the Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research (1951-1968). Pretoria: Department of Agriculture, June 1969.

Bigalke, R.D. The class of 1926: Graduates excell in various fields. OP News, 2004, Vol. 4(1), pp. 6-7.

FamilySearch: Dr Neville Charles Starke. https://www.familysearch.org/en/tree/person/details/GD6C-G88

Identity Number: South African Marriage Records. Retrieved on 23 November 2020 from https://www.identitynumber.org/marriage-lookup-surname-results.php?surname=STARKE

Posthumus, P.J. Past veterinarians in South Africa (10th edition), Vol. 2, [1992].

Compiled by: D.W. Verwoerd

Last updated: 2025-12-17 11:56:26