SASSE, Douglas Joseph
| Service Number: | 1882 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 17 August 1914, No 1 WAA FA |
| Last Rank: | Bombardier |
| Last Unit: | 3rd Field Artillery Battery |
| Born: | Goulburn New South Wales, Australia, 14 January 1890 |
| Home Town: | Mount Hawthorn, Vincent, Western Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Tailor |
| Died: | Geraldton, Western Australia, 13 October 1970, aged 80 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Geraldton Cemetery, Western Australia |
| Memorials: | West Leederville St Barnabas Anglican Church Honour WW1 Board |
World War 1 Service
| 17 Aug 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Driver, 1882, 3rd Field Artillery Brigade , No 1 WAA FA | |
|---|---|---|
| 31 Oct 1914: | Involvement Driver, 1882, 3rd Field Artillery Brigade , --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '3' embarkation_place: Fremantle embarkation_ship: HMAT Medic embarkation_ship_number: A7 public_note: '' | |
| 31 Oct 1914: | Embarked Driver, 1882, 3rd Field Artillery Brigade , HMAT Medic, Fremantle | |
| 19 Jan 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Bombardier, 1882, 3rd Field Artillery Battery, England |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Evan Evans
From Friends of ANZAC Cottage Inc
Today, we pay homage to another Mount Hawthorn soldier who served during World War I. Douglas Joseph Sasse had a fascinating life, starting with his life in the services: I have found him described as a "Gunner", a "Driver", a "Bombardier" and an "Acting Corporal" and even at one stage if my eyesight does not deceive me, he was also a trumpeter.
Douglas enlisted on 17 August 1914 at the age of 23 and fought at Gallipoli and on the Western Front. He was in the 3rd Field Artillery Brigade, Battery 8. Douglas was in the first convoy to leave Fremantle at the end of October 1914/start of November 1914 on Transport A7 "Medic".
He experienced a lot of pain during his service with multiple visits to hospitals suffering from rheumatism and myalgia. He was a keen correspondent and several of his letters were published in the Western Australian media, giving a great insight into the experiences and conditions 'our boys' were undergoing.
Douglas married whilst in England (he was granted 75 days leave as one of the originals who enlisted in 1914) and also was demobilised in that country. He arrived back in WA complete with wife and three small boys in 1921 and then set about his post-service life.
It seems that Douglas had a restlessness that many veterans experienced, for instance his occupation on enlistment was variously described as a tailor and a wood merchant.
Back in civilian mode, he continued to vary his lifestyle, occupation and place of living. At one stage he was a farmer at Wubin and another he was an engineer in the Northern Territory, having served as a cadet engineer in Cobar, New South Wales, not to mention a founder of the Buffalo Lodge in Boyup Brook. But arguably, given the time , was a foray into hydroponics in the 1940s.(see in images)
Sadly Douglas's marriage to his English bride did not last and they were divorced after 5 years of separation in 1948.
It seems that Douglas spent his declining years in Geraldton and he died there in 1970 at the age of 79, having lived a vibrant, diverse life.
The Friends of ANZAC Cottage thank you for your service, Douglas and we take comfort in knowing that you are now resting in peace. Less we forget.
Click images to start slideshow.