John Douglas (Doug) Donald

John Douglas (Doug) Donald

photo courtesy Helen Clark
In training at Northam - photo courtesy Helen Clark
Personal Information
Date of Birth	30 Apr 1923
Place of Birth	Armadale, Western Australia
Death	19 Sep 1975 aged 52
Place of Death	Shenton Park, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	18 years, 7 months
Description	5' 3½" (1.61m) tall ; ; medium complexion ; blue eyes ; brown hair ; loss of two joints rignth index finger
Occupation	farm hand
Religion	Methodist
Address	Outram road, Armadale, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Father , Mr Robert Donald
Military Information
Reg Number	[https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=6377284 W34785 & WX30918
Date of Enlistment	17 Dec 1941 & 23 Aug 1942
Rank	Sapper
Unit/Formation	1st Australian Bomb Disposal Platoon
Post War Details
Fate	Returned to Australia

War Service

Doug was enlisted in the part time CMF on 14 Jun 1941, allocated to the 10th Australian Light Horse Regiment ww2. Doug entered training camp on 7 Jul 1941 and finished his training on 4 Oct 1941 the day he was called up for full time duty. At some point his unit designation changed to 10th Australian Recconnaisance Battalion. On 10 Mar 1942 at Wanneroo he was fined 5/- (50 cents) by his Commanding Officer. (Charge not stated in his records). On 28 Apr 1942 Doug was charged with having been AWOL, leading to a fine of 10/- and loss of a day's pay (6/-). Total loss 16/- ($1.60). He was then granted a period of Leave without Pay from 22 May until 10 Jun 1942 after which he rejoined the Light Horse.

On 23 Aug 1942 Doug enlisted in the 2nd AIF, with a new Army number of WX 30918. He entrained for New South Wales on 12 May 1944, transferred to the 1st Australian Base Depot Personnel, arriving there on 27 May 1944. On 6 Jun 1944 Doug transfered to the 1st RAE Training Battalion and following training he was posted tothe 1st Australian Bomb Disposl Platoon on 21 Oct 1944. On 16 Mar 1945 he embarked on USAT Sea Barb in Cairns for Morotai where he disembarked on 28 Mar 1945. He was granted proficiency pay on 20 Apr 1945, and embarked aboard LST?? in Morotai for service in Tarakan on 22 Apr 1945. He returned to Morotai on 18 May 1945 aboard USS LST 637.

On 21 Jan 1946 Doug embarked at Macassar for Sydney, disembarking there on 2 Feb 1946 16 Mar 45 to 2 Feb 46

Discharged 25 Feb 1946

Post War

In 1951 John married Mavis Lurline Drage. They had five children: Norman, Noeleen, Helen, Susan, Milton. Electoral Roll entries: 1949 Trayning, farm labourer; 1954 - 1958 Kirup, forestry worker; 1963 - 1972 at 80 Outram road Armadale, brick burner.

John also worked as a truck driver for the City of Canning in around 1973 / 1974. He then took ill and passed away in 1975.

When not at work, John enjoyed tinkering in his backyard, particularly working on his car.

Notes

Was born 30th April 1924 and changed his birth date to 1923 in order to enlist in Armadale as a light horseman.

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