DOIG, Norman Alexander
| Service Number: | 8444 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 1 August 1915, He first tried to enlist on 24.7.15, but was rejected due to a slight deafness. Was accepted on the second attempt. |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 4th Field Ambulance |
| Born: | Semaphore, South Australia, 26 June 1885 |
| Home Town: | Fremantle, Fremantle, Western Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Machinist |
| Died: | Natural causes, Bicton, near Fremantle, Western Australia, 6 September 1967, aged 82 years |
| Cemetery: |
Fremantle Cemetery, Western Australia Cremation. Ashes scattered at the cemetery |
| Memorials: | Fremantle Scots Church Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 1 Aug 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 8444, 4th Field Ambulance, He first tried to enlist on 24.7.15, but was rejected due to a slight deafness. Was accepted on the second attempt. | |
|---|---|---|
| 17 Jan 1916: | Involvement Private, 8444, 4th Field Ambulance, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '22' embarkation_place: Fremantle embarkation_ship: HMAT Borda embarkation_ship_number: A30 public_note: '' | |
| 17 Jan 1916: | Embarked Private, 8444, 4th Field Ambulance, HMAT Borda, Fremantle |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Helen Harmer
Norman Alexander Doig was born near Semaphore, South Australia on the 26.6.1885, shortly after which the family moved to WA. Norm tried to enlist at Perth on the 24.7.15 but was rejected due to a slight deafness. He again presented himself and was accepted for service in August 1915. He was a machinist and Protestant (others in the family were Presbyterian). He was also a talented footballer, playing for East Fremantle. Appointed as Private with service number 8444, he was initially assigned to the 13th reinforcements, 4th Field Ambulance and trained at Blackboy Hill. He was described as being 5 feet 3 inches tall, with a chest measurement of 33-35½ inches, dark complexion, brown eyes and dark hair. Next of kin was his widowed mother, Agnes Doig of 8 Howard St, Fremantle. Norm embarked from Fremantle on HMAT Borda A30 on the 17th of January 1916. After reaching Egypt, he was assigned to the 7th Field Ambulance and set sail for France. On the 3rd of May at the 2nd battle of Bullecourt, Norman was wounded by shrapnel through his shoulder, chest, arm, abdomen and leg. Sent to Number 10 General Hospital in Rouen, none of the wounds proved too serious. Returning to his unit after leave, he served through the actions on Menin Road and Broodseinde Ridge during the Third Battle of Ypres. In 1917 he was sent to hospital with trench fever and evacuated to England. In 1918, he was attached to various AIF training units but did not return to the Western Front. On 1st June 1918, Norm got married in Scotland to Eliza Drabble from Dundee. On 29th December 1919, Norm and Eliza boarded the MHT Port Napier, reaching Fremantle on the 2nd of February 1920. He was discharged from the AIF on the 11th of April 1920.
Norm’s mother was buried at Fremantle cemetery, Presbyterian section EE, grave 0845. Norm died in Bicton on the 6.9.1967, aged 84. His ashes were scattered at Fremantle Cemetery.
NAA Series # B2455 Barcode 6517524
Western Australian Cemeteries Deceased Search