Born in Wellington in 1897, educated at Wellington College and Edinburgh University where he graduated M.B., Ch B. in 1922 his studies having been interrupted by service in the Royal Field Artillery from 1917 to 1919. After returning to Wellington he set up in General Practice and soon gained a reputation as a General Surgeon.
A member of the RNVR and later the
RNZNVR, Surgeon Captain Corkill was Principal Medical Officer for the Wellington Division from 1928 - 29 and served through
World War II in the Royal New Zealand Navy. From 1941 to 1946 he was Director of the New Zealand Naval Medical Services and was involved in the setting up of the
Royal New Zealand Naval Hospital in 1941 at HMNZS PHILOMEL. Appointed O.B.E. in 1942 he had been previously awarded the Volunteer Decoration and in 1946 he was appointed an Officer of the Order of St.John of Jerusalem. Surgeon Captain Corkill died at Wellington in 1954 aged 57.