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Douglas Campbell Wills Winning

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Douglas Campbell Wills Winning
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Personal Information
Date of Birth 1 Oct 1895
Place of Birth Broughtferry, Scotland
Death 4 Jun 1963, aged 67
Place of Death South perth, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment 18 years, 11 months ?
Description 5' 4¾" (1.64m) tall ; 127 lbs
57.606 kg
; ruddy complexion ; blue eyes ; dark brown hair
Occupation Orchardist
Religion Presbyterian
Address 'Dunkeld Farm', Bedfordale, Western Australia
Next of Kin Father , Mr Douglas Campbell Winning
Military Information
Reg Number 1296
Date of Enlistment 10 Sep 1914
Rank Private
Unit/Formation Field Ambulance 4, Section C; transferred to 12th Field Ambulance and then 16th Battalion 3rd Reinforcements
Date of Embarkation 31 Dec 1914 ‒ ? 1915
Ship Embarked On HMAT A31 Ajana
Date of Return 7 Nov 1919 ‒ 19 Dec 1919
Ship Returned On HMAT A74 Marathon
Fate Wounded in Action 9 May 1918 Somme region
Returned to Australia
Monument Armadale War Memorial (Bedfordale panel)
Bedfordale Roll of Honour
Armadale and Districts Roll of Honour
Medals 1914-15 Star
British War Medal
Victory Medal



Pre War

War Service

Within a month of entering camp, on15 Oct 1914 he was assigned to the 4th Field Ambulance's 'C' Section as a Driver and he embarked for Egypt on 31 Dec 1914 aboard HMAT A31 Ajana, disembarking in late January 1915. In Egypt he joined the troops embarking for Gallipoli, and on 15 Jul 1915 was admitted to the 17th General Hospital with fevers. On 22 Jul 1915 he was transferred to the Overseas Base Unit rather than returning to Gallipoli, and on 25 Nov he was transferred to Maadi from Alexandria. Douglas had one AWOL period in 1915, costing him 1 day's pay. On 24 Feb 1916 Doug was charged with being AWOL from 6:00pm on 12 Feb 1916 until 10:00pm on 23 Feb 1916 for which he was awarded 10 day's detention and the forfeiture of 12 day's pay. On his release he was transferred to the 12th Field Ambulance.


On 22 Mar 1916 he was hospitalised in the 2nd Australian Stationary Hospital at Tel-el Kebir with mumps, before being transferred on 26 Mar 1916 aboard Ambulance Train No. 4 to Abbassia where he was admitted to the 4th Australian Auxiliary Hospital. They released him to duty on 28 Mar 1916. On 4 May 1916 Doug was charged with being AWOL in Cairo on 24 April and 1 May, and having breaking away from arrest on 29 Apr in Tel-el-Kebir. The award was a total of 28 days Field Punishment which could be considered very light. Soon after he fractured his left arm falling off a bike while on leave in Cairo which resulted in him being evacuated to England on 26 Jun 1916 aboard HS Maheno, arriving there on 3 Jul 1916. Doug was admitted to the 3rd General Hospital


In Nov 1916 he was Court Martialed for being AWOL at Perham Downs from 8 Aug 1916 until he was arrested in London at 10:30am on 25 Aug 1916. He was also charged with having false documentation; for escaping while in confinement at 4:00pm on 15 Aug 1916 (re-arrested on 4 Sep 1916); another false document (leave pass); charged with desertion given he escaped again from 8 Sep 1916 until arrested in civilian clothes at mid day on 4 oct 1916. and was sentenced to a one year term of imprisonment - on review, four months were remitted by the reviewing officer. Total loss of pay was 339 days.


On 15 Jul 1917 Doug was back at Perham Downs and on 16 July he was transferred to the Machine Gun Training Depot. On 4 Aug 1917 Doug was charged with having been AWOL from 9:00am until 10:30am on 28 Jul 1917; with neglecting to obey Routine Orders; and with having another man's tunic. Sentenced to 21 days detention and the loss of 24 day's pay, he was sent to the Devizes Detention Barracks. On his return he was AWOL from 8 Sep 1917 until apprehended on 25 Sep 1917 by the Provost Corps in London. He was then Court Martialed again on 26 Oct 1917 at Parkhouse, and given a seven month sentence, with four months again remitted. Several other AWOL offences, along with several visits to the 1st Australian Dermatological Hospital at Bulford for treatment for venereal disease followed. He was transferred to the 16th Battalion reinforcements on 6 Dec 1917 while in custody and released from the Lewes Detention Barracks on 10 Jan 1918, but again admitted to the 1st Australian Dermatological Hospital on 12 Jan 1918 for further treatment before being released on 29 Jan 1918. From 15 Feb 1918 until 19 Mar 1918 he was with the 13th Training Battalion preparing for service in France.


Doug proceeded overseas via Southampton on 19 Mar 1918 to join the 16th Battalion which was accomplished on 15 Apr 1918. On 9 May 1918 he received a minor shrapnel wound to his right shoulder, as his unit came out of the line near Villers-Bretonneux, but he was able to remain with the unit after treatment. Numerous other AWOL charges are listed, but later, at the time of his marriage, he was given 6 months leave in the UK to train with an Electrical Engineer from March to September 1919 during which time he married. He and his wife Helena sailed for Australia aboard HMAT A74 Marathon on 7 Nov 1919, and disembarked in Fremantle on 19 Dec 1919. Doug was discharged by the 5th Military District on 6 Jan 1920.


"...enlisted 5th September, 1914, and sailed on the 31st December 1914, with the 4th Field Ambulance of the Australian Army Medical Corps. Served in Gallipoli, Egypt, and France, and is now recovering in England from injuries received."[1] [At this stage he was in prison, and had not yet been wounded.]

Post War

Married Helena Mary Farley from Sutton Veny on 24 Mar 1919. Children (9 Mar 1920 daughter Isabel E; 27 Mar 1924 daughter Esther Mary; and son Douglas C M (Jnr) d. 1973 aged 38.

Electoral Roll entries - 1925 electrician living with Helena at 255 Hay street, East Perth; 1931 at 91 Rupert street, Subiaco; 1936 - 1937 at 70 Shakespeare street, Balkatta; 1943 at 72 Eric street, Claremont; 1949 - 1963 at 22 Bourke street South Perth; Helena remained at Bourke street until sometime between 1968 and 1972 when she was at 90 Crellin way, Cloverdale. Helena died 27 Nov 1986 aged 85 in Cloverdale.

References

  1. "The Drill of the Foot-Hills" (PDF) (1917). Western Australia. Mar 1917. p. 8. Retrieved 16 May 2017 – via State Library of Western Australia. 

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