Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Next of kin was given as his brother William Douglas of 'Goombungee', Toowoomba, QLD

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal

Prior to enlisting he had been apprenticed to Leach & Sons of Brisbane for 3 years

Had previously served in South Africa

Joseph Douglas served in both the South African (Boer) War, in two contingents, and WW1. First service was as a Private S.N. 94, 2nd Queensland Imperial Bushmen, Boer War. Second service was as a Private S.N. 601, 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, Boer War. Third service was as a Private S.N. 3032/3033, 9th Infantry Battalion AIF, WW1, during which he was K.I.A. in France.

When he joined the 2nd QMI in 1900 and his details were published with the rank and file in The Queenslander, 20 Jan 1900, he noted he was single and his address was Bell St, Petrie Terrace, Brisbane. He was invalided from this service and returned to Australia for discharge in Brisbane on 17 May 1901.

Not long after he was selected in the First Draft of the 6th QIB and embarked again for South Africa in Aug 1901. The members of the draft mainly consisted of men who had served in previous contingents in South Africa and were assembled as reinforcements for the 5th and 6th QIB contingents already in South Africa. He is recorded in the Boer War Service Paybooks for the 5th QIB, Bk 4 p. 39, where it is noted he directed part of his pay to his brother James Douglas, Cnr. Bell & Pratten Sts, Petrie Terrace, Brisbane.

He enlisted again in 1915 for WW1 and on his Attestation Paper, dated 16 Aug 1915, it is noted that; he was born at Brisbane and was 43 years 11 months of age; he was single and a railway ganger; his N.O.K. was his brother Mr. W. Douglas, Goombungee, Toowoomba, Queensland; and he had previously served in the 2nd QMI in South Africa. 

James Douglas was born on 24 Sep 1867 at Brisbane, a son to Richard Douglas and Alice Douglas (nee Holt).

He was K.I.A. while serving in France during WW1, and just prior had written a letter home to his brother William describing his experiences. This was published in a number of newspapers as a memorial, one of which is transcribed below.

A Sad Remembrance- The Darling Downs Gazette, 20 Jul 1916, p. 4.

The following letter was recieved by Mr W. Douglas, 'Ivanhoe', Goombungee, some short time ago from his brother Pte. J. Douglas, who has since been killed in action in France:-

Dear Brother,- A few lines to let you know I am still in the land of the living, and enjoying good health. So far I have escaped, but have had some narrow squeaks. One thing, you are never lonely here, for guns of all sorts are at it night and day- big guns, trench mortars, 18-pounders, tearing the earth up in all directions, and leaving holes deep enough to bury one; accompanied by the rattle of machine guns and rifles, whilst all night long star shells from both sides burst up in the sky showing everything for hundreds of yards as clear as day. Our aeroplanes do some of the gamest things out; I have seen them fly over the German lines, and the Germans with their aircraft guns firing hundreds of shells at them in addition to rifle and machine gun fire, and the air-man sailing through the hail of fire and seeming to take no notice, and if a German plane comes out they very soon chase it back. I reckon if anyone is deserving of a V.C. they are. Talk about the Germans being supreme in the air, they are not in it with ours in pluck or anything else except speed, and now I must close with love to all.

(source- AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p. 461 & 518; Qld State Archives- Boer War Service Paybooks 2nd QMI, Bk 1 p. 35, and 5th QIB, Bk 4 p. 39; National Archives Australia- Boer War Dossier 1st service; National Archives Australia- WW1 service record).