Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Dougal was the son of John MCPHAIL & Ellen MCEACHERN and was born on the 9th of February 1887 in Sandford, VIC.

His parents were married on the 17th of September 1879 at the residence of Mr James Harris, Glenburnie, SA.

His father was the son of John MCPHAIL & Augusta MCLARTY and was born in 1856 in Moonee Ponds, VIC.
His mother was the daughter of Donald MCEACHERN & Janet Jessie SMITH and was born in 1857 in Mt Gambier, SA.

Dougal was the fifth child born into the family of 6 children.

His father was engaged in metal road contracting and contracted to the local council and they moved to South Australia when Dougal was still a child.

After completing his education he gained employment as a labourer.

Dougal married Charlotte Annie FRANKLIN on the 3rd of June 1914 at the residence of Annie’s parents, Naracoorte, SA.
Charlotte was 5 months pregnant when they married.
Charlotte was the daughter of Francis Thomas FRANKLIN & Anne WHEATER and was born on the 25th of May 1887 in Penola, SA.
They made their home in Smith Street, Naracoorte and welcomed their first child; Annie, on the 27th of October 1914.

At the age of 28, Dougal enlisted in the 1st AIF on the 9th of July 1915 in Keswick, SA and was allotted the service number 5357 and posted to M Group, Base Light Horse.
He was then posted to the 8th Field Artillery Reinforcements, in Mitcham Camp, on the 1st of August and then on the 1st of November he was transferred to the 3rd Field Artillery Brigade (FAB), 10th Reinforcements, as a driver.

Dougald embarked from Melbourne on board HMAT A70 Ballarat on the 9th of September 1915, disembarked in Egypt and was then posted to the 7th Field Artillery Battery in Heliopolis, on the 20th of November.

He served in France for 2 years and whilst he was there his brother Archibald enlisted into the 1st AIF on the 11th of July 1916 and was posted to the 57th Battalion (2703) and embarked from Melbourne on board HMAT A71 Nestor on the 2nd of October 1916.

Dougal finally embarked from England on the 10th of April 1919 on board HT Medic, disembarking in Adelaide on the 26th of May.
He immediately returned to his wife and child in Naracoorte and was then discharged from the AIF on the 19th of July 1919.

They welcomed their next child; John Franklin, on the 3rd of September 1920, followed by Jean Elizabeth, in 1923 and Henry Thomas Casterton on the 16th of August 1924.

They then welcomed twins into the family; Doris Ellen Pearl & Douglas Francis, on the 5th of September 1927.
They later moved to Kongorong and Dougal became a farmer and shearer in the northern district of Kongorong and was later employed by the Livingston Brothers.

He later joined the Mt Gambier RSL Sub-Branch and in the late 1930’s his health became to deteriorate.

With the outbreak of WW2, 2 of their sons enlisted; John on the 14th of May 1940 (SX2781) and then Henry on the 16th of December 1942 (RAAF 121907).

Then with Australia’s involvement in the Korean War, their youngest son, Dougald enlisted on the 29th of September 1951.

Dougal died at has residence, at Kongorong, on the 11th of August 1952 and his funeral was held the following day.
He was buried in the Lake Terrace Cemetery, Mt Gambier; Section K, Plot 683.
Rev. Bingham conducted the service and the Pall bearers were Messrs Jack, Robert, Edwin & Les Grant.
Ern James carried out the funeral arrangements.

Charlotte died on the 25th of December 1973 and is buried in the Dudley Park Cemetery.

Military

At the age of 28, Dougald enlisted in the 1st AIF on the 9th of July 1915 in Keswick, SA and was allotted the service number 5357 and posted to M Group, Base Light Horse.
He listed his wife, of Naracoorte, SA, as his next of kin.

He was then posted to the 8th Field Artillery Reinforcements, in Mitcham Camp, on the 1st of August and then on the 1st of November he was transferred to the 3rd Field Artillery Brigade (FAB), 10th Reinforcements, as a driver.

Dougald embarked from Melbourne on board HMAT A70 Ballarat on the 9th of September 1915, disembarked in Egypt and was then posted to the 7th Field Artillery Battery in Heliopolis, on the 20th of November.
He spent a further 4 months in training and during this time they moved to Tel-el-Kebir and completed shell and gunnery training.

On the 22nd of March 1916 the Prince of Wales inspected the troops and their camp and then the following day they entrained for Alexandria where they embarked for Marseilles.
After 6 days they arrived at Marseilles where they disembarked and marched into La Fournier Camp.
They then remained here until the 6th of April when they entrained to Le Havre and then the following week they entrained to their new billets in Borre via Godewaersvelde.

On the 22nd they marched to Fleurbaix where they supported their infantry in the field for the first time.
In May they were in support of the front line between Fleurbaix and Laventie, before moving onto the Pettillion Sector in July and La Boisselle in August.
Their next major battle was at Pozieres and then Mouquet Farm in late September before moving onto Ypres and then to Flers, in the Somme, in November.

They then spent all of December at Delville Wood, including Christmas Day, and then by early February 1917 they had moved onto Lesboeufs.
Their next major engagement was at the Battle of Bullecourt in April 1917 and then the Battle of Messines in June.
The Battle of Menin Road and Polygon Wood were then in September, followed by Passchendaele and Ancre in November.

By the 8th of December they had moved to Boeschepe for rest and training and Christmas 1917 was spent here in the cold and the snow.
They were still in training in January and February, but were also in close support ready to relieve the 12th Field Artillery Brigade in the front line.

By April they had moved to support the infantry in the Battle of Villers Bretonneux and then in July they were involved in the Battle of Le Hamel.
This was followed in August by Amiens and Albert before Dougal gained 2 weeks leave to England on the 1st of September.

When Dougal returned to his Battery on the 19th, they had moved to the Hindenburg Line between Bellicourt & Vendhuile.
Seven days later, on the 26th of September, Dougal was admitted into the 3rd Australian Brigade Field Ambulance suffering an accidental injury to his knee.
He was then transferred to the 55th Casualty Clearing Station in Doingt and then onto the 2nd General Hospital in Le Havre on the 29th where he was diagnosed with Synovotis of the knee.

After 2 weeks in hospital he was discharged to the 1st Australian Command Depot on the 13th of October, but was readmitted to hospital just 5 days later.
After another 9 days he was again discharged to the 1st Australian Command Depot and he was here when the Armistice was signed on the 11th of November.
Dougal was then transferred to the Australian General Base Depot in Le Havre on the 4th of December and embarked for England on the 12th of December.

He marched into No.2 Command Depot where he spent his last Christmas away from his family and friemds.

Dougal embarked from England on the 10th of April 1919 on board HT Medic, disembarking in Adelaide on the 26th of May.

Dougal was discharged from the AIF on the 19th of July 1919 and awarded the 1914/15 Star, British War & Victory Medals.