Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Donald Frederick Pascoe

18 October 1908 – 9 February 1978

Donald Frederick Pascoe was born on 18 October 1908 at Bairnsdale, Victoria, the son of John ("Jack") Jones Pascoe and Alice Isabella Pascoe (née Daniel). He grew up in the Gippsland region, though his early life was marked by the loss of his mother in 1922 when he was still a teenager.

On 26 April 1930, Donald married Olive Rubina Pascoe at Bairnsdale. The couple had two children, Donald Francis and Dawn Margaret, before their marriage broke down. Divorce proceedings were heard in Victoria in 1940, formally ending the marriage after a period of separation.

At the time of the Second World War, Donald had moved to Melbourne and was working as a horse trainer, having previously been employed as a hairdresser. He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on 9 July 1940 at Caulfield, Victoria, and was assigned to the 2/11 Field Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery, with the service number VX44759. His next of kin was recorded as his father, still residing in Bairnsdale.

Donald served as a Gunner, later attaining the rank of Lance Bombardier, and embarked for overseas service in March 1942. He spent approximately a year overseas in the Middle East before his health declined. Suffering from ongoing medical issues, including gastric illness, he was returned to Australia and ultimately discharged on 1 February 1944 as medically unfit. His total service included 376 days overseas, and he was entitled to the 1939–1945 Star, Defence Medal, War Medal 1939–1945, and Australia Service Medal.

Following his discharge, Donald returned to his home district of Bairnsdale, where he intended to reside at the Lansdowne Hotel. During the years following the war, he appears to have lived a somewhat mobile life, including periods associated with hotel residences and employment in Victoria and interstate.

In 1957, Donald married Thelma May Duggan in Victoria. The couple later lived at the Crown Hotel in Wentworth, New South Wales, before eventually settling in South Australia.

Donald Frederick Pascoe died on 9 February 1978 at the Repatriation Hospital, Daw Park, South Australia, aged 69 years. He had been residing at Northfield at the time of his death. His funeral was held shortly afterwards, and he was cremated on 13 February 1978. His ashes were placed at Enfield Memorial Park, in the RSL section, commemorating his wartime service.

Sources

Victoria Birth RegistrationPASCOE, Donald Frederick

Born: 18 October 1908, Bairnsdale, Victoria
Father: John ("Jack") Jones Pascoe
Mother: Alice Isabella Daniel
Registration No: 24098
Victoria Marriage RegistrationPASCOE, Donald Frederick

Spouse: Olive Rubina Pascoe
Date: 26 April 1930
Place: Bairnsdale, Victoria
Victoria Divorce RecordsPASCOE, Donald Frederick vs. Olive Rubina Pascoe

Service No: VX44759
Series: B883
Enlisted: 9 July 1940, Caulfield, Victoria
Discharged: 1 February 1944 (Medically unfit)
Unit: 2/11 Field Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery
Australian Military Records (Statement of Service)PASCOE, Donald Frederick

Service period: 1940–1944
Overseas service: 376 days
Rank: Lance Bombardier
Victoria Marriage RegistrationPASCOE, Donald Frederick

Spouse: Thelma May Duggan
Year: 1957
Reference No: 10494
Electoral Roll / Residence RecordsVictoria & New South Wales

Includes residence at Crown Hotel, Wentworth (1958)
South Australia Death RegistrationPASCOE, Donald Frederick

Date of Death: 9 February 1978
Place: Repatriation Hospital, Daw Park
Residence: Northfield
Reference: 393A/1041
Newspaper Notices – The Advertiser (Adelaide)Death Notice: Published 11 February 1978

Funeral Notice: Published 11 February 1978
Enfield Memorial Park RecordsCremation Date: 13 February 1978

Location: Eastern Niche Wall No. 1, RSL Section
Headstone / Memorial Inscription"VX44759 Gunner D. F. Pascoe

2/11 Field Regiment
Died 9-2-1978, Aged 69"

Biography by Trevor Pyatt 3/04/2026