Leopold George Hill

Hill was accepted into CMS in August 1893.[6][11] After his marriage to Grabham, the couple was sent by CMS to the South China Mission in Pakhoi, China in 1895.[6] Hill worked at the local CMS mission hospital under the guidance of Edward George Horder and collaborated frequently with Rev. Edward Barnard Beauchamp.[3][12] He worked extensively with the leprosy patients that lived in the colony attached to the hospital during his stay in the area.[3][13] Hill divided his remaining time between overseeing the construction of new hospital buildings in Kotak, superintending the mission boys' school in Rev. Beauchamp's absence, and serving nearby villages with medical chest visits.[14][15]

With his wife, Hill made it his mission to provide an "object in life" to his patients.[3] He was immensely involved in the religious affairs of the South China Mission, believing that preaching, rather than healing, was the primary goal of the hospital.[2] This belief motivated Hill to learn Chinese with the hopes of introducing scripture to the colony residents alongside Rev. Beauchamp.[16] Additionally, he often addressed local religious meetings to assist with monetary collections for the hospital and to spread the gospel.[14]

In the summer of 1899, Hill applied for a brief leave of absence, citing the deteriorating health of his wife and the need to recover from the physical strain of working 5 years at the undermanned mission hospital.[17] He left for London in February 1900 while unsure about continuing his service in Pakhoi due to the declining health of his mentor, Dr. Edward Horder.[17] Hill returned to Pakhoi in 1902 to continue all his previous work at the Mission Hospital, while also welcoming new staff to Pakhoi in the absence of both Horder and Beauchamp.[6] In 1903, Hill was joined by Rev. Charles Isaac Blanchett and Dr. Harry L. Cliff to serve the growing population of the leper colony.[18][19]

During his time of missionary service, Hill was appointed Consular Medical Officer and Physician to the Imperial Maritime Customs Service by the European colony in Pakhoi, a position he held until his retirement from the South China Mission.[3]

Hill left Pakhoi for a final time in April 1904 on another medical certificate and returned to his residence in London to recuperate from health issues.[6] Citing family reasons, Hill resigned from missionary work in July 1905.[20] By the time of his retirement, he had completed 10.5 years in service (with 3.5 years of absence).[3] Hill settled into private practice in London while maintaining participation in CMS as a Medical Board member.[8] As a Medical Board committee member, Hill oversaw the missionary work that was continuing at his former station in South China.[21]

Hill was appointed as a Physician to the CMS in 1911, and eventually as Honorable Physician in October 1922.[3][4] As Physician to the CMS, Hill verified and reported the leaves of the missionaries he oversaw.[4] He was responsible for approving the transfers and returns of missionaries he deemed as too ill to continue service.[22]

Additionally, Hill was a medical examiner to the British and Foreign Bible Society and the Colonial and Continental Church Society.[4] During World War I, Hill served as a civil surgeon at the City of London Military Hospital.[3] He also served as an Honorary Anesthetist at Mildmay Memorial Hospital.[8]