Dugald Thomas Main
From Our Contribution
 Western Mail | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | c1881 |
| Place of Birth | Ballarat, Victoria |
| Death | 25 Jan 1962, aged 80 |
| Place of Death | Wembley, Western Australia |
| Age at Enlistment | 35 Years, 9 months |
| Description |
5' 7½" (1.71m) tall ; 160 lbs 72.575 kg ; medium complexion ; blue eyes ; brown hair |
| Occupation | Engine fitter |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Address | Post Office Beenup, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Wife , Mrs Levina Main |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | 4420 |
| Date of Enlistment | 20 Jul 1917 |
| Rank | Private |
| Unit/Formation | 2nd Pioneer Battalion, 12th Reinforcements |
| Date of Embarkation | 30 Oct 1917 ‒ 27 Dec 1917 |
| Ship Embarked On | HMAT A60 Aeneas Melbourne to Devonport |
| Date of Return | 16 Jun 1919 ‒ 24 Jul 1919 |
| Ship Returned On | RMS Ormonde |
| Fate |
Wounded in Action 30 Aug 1918 Mount St Quentin Returned to Australia |
| Monument | none at present |
| Medals |
British War Medal Victory Medal |
Pre War
In 1902 he married Levina Bennett in Coolgardie. Levina died in West Leederville on 21 Jul 1963, aged 81.
Electoral Roll entries - 1910 with Levina at 17 Lode street, Brown Hill (Kalgoorlie) an engine driver; 1913 moved by himself to Gwalia. 1916 an engineer at Beenup
War Service
After enlisting in Perth, Dugald was sent to Broadmeadows camp in Victoria for Pioneer training before travelling to England with his reinforcement draft.
On his arrival in England he was sent to the Pioneer Training Battalion at Sutton Veny on 27 Dec 1917 to prepare for service on the Western Front. On 18 Feb 1918 he was appointed an Acting Lance Corporal, reverting to Private on 7 Apr 1918 when he proceeded via Southampton to France where he was taken on strength of the 2nd Pioneer Battalion on 26 Apr 1918.
On 30 Aug 1918 Dugald received a severe shell wound to his head and chest. Initially treated by 6th Field Ambulance he was passed in turn to the 53rd Casualty Clearing Station and the 12th General Hospital in Rouen before on 5 Oct 1918 being embarked for the UK on HMHS Gloucester Castle at Rouen. On arrival in England he was admitted to the 3rd Western General Hospital in Cardiff.
The unit War Diary doesn't specifically mention how the wound was received, simply one wounded and three to hospital, sick. However, two of the Companies were reconnoitering roads in the forward area and could have been observed by enemy artillery.
Dugald was finally thought to be 'out of danger' on 30 Oct 1918, and by 1 Jan 1919 he was reported as being convalescent. On 14 Mar 1919 Dugald was transferred to the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital, where he was released on 7 Apr 1919 for two weeks furlough before preparing for return to Australia.
The length of time between Dugald's return to Fremantle and his discharge (8 months) would suggest that he spent a considerable time as both an in and an out patient at 8th Australian General Hospital Fremantle after his return. He was discharged on 5 Mar 1920 by the 5th Military District.
Post War
Electoral Roll entries - 1916 - 1925 an engineer at the State Brickworks in Beenup; 1929 at 53 Kimberley street, Balkatta, where they remain until WW2; 1943 - 63 at 70 Ruislip street, Leederville.
Notes