DOOHAN, Bert Reginald
| Service Number: | 35 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 22 August 1914 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 2nd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Singleton, New South Wales, Australia, 1894 |
| Home Town: | Singleton, Northumberland, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Engine Cleaner |
| Died: | Died of wounds, France, 24 May 1918 |
| Cemetery: |
Ebblinghem Military Cemetery |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Haymarket NSW Government Railway and Tramway Honour Board, Singleton Public School HR, Singleton War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 22 Aug 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 35, 2nd Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 18 Oct 1914: | Involvement Private, 35, 2nd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '7' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Suffolk embarkation_ship_number: A23 public_note: '' | |
| 18 Oct 1914: | Embarked Private, 35, 2nd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Suffolk, Sydney |
Help us honour Bert Reginald Doohan's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by John Oakes
Bert (Bertie) Reginald DOOHAN (Service Number 35) was born in 1894 in Singleton, NSW. When he joined the AIF on 22th August 1914, he gave his occupation as Engine cleaner. Bert joined the NSW Government Railways and Tramways on 28th July 1913 as a cleaner in the Railways Locomotive Branch at Singleton.
On enlistment in the AIF, Bert had the rank of Private (Service No. 35). He was initially posted to ‘A’ Company, 2nd Infantry Battalion. He nominated his father, Mr M Doohan of Singleton, NSW, as his next of kin.
On 18th October 1914, he embarked at Sydney for Egypt aboard HMAT A32 ‘Suffolk’. He stayed in Egypt until 5th April 1915. Then he embarked at Alexandria for Gallipoli. Sometime between 25th and 30th April 1915, he was wounded in action. His wounds were severe enough to require him to be evacuated to hospital in Malta. He reached there on 4th May 1915. He returned to Egypt on 10th August 1915. Then he was invalided out to England on 26th August 1915. He was admitted to hospital with a sprained ankle on 9th September 1915. He stayed in England attached to Headquarters units, He received training for the remainder of 1915 and all of 1916.
On 1st January 1917 Bert was transferred to the Anzac Provost Corps. He remained with that unit until 13th September 1917 when he was transferred back to the 2nd Infantry Battalion. During this period, on 17th April 1917, he married Clara Poulton of East Molesey, Surrey, at St Mary’s Parish Church, East Molesey. On 17th January 1918 she gave birth to their son, Reginald Michael W Doohan.
Bert was based in England until 6th May 1918 when he was sent to France. He joined the 2nd Battalion in the field on 12th May 1918. On 24th May 1918 he was wounded in a gas attack and died of gas poisoning on the same day. Bert’s grave is in the Ebblinghem Military Cemetery, Ebblinghem, Nord Pas de Calais, France.
After his death his widow was awarded a pension of 40 shillings per fortnight with effect from 30th July 1918. Their son was awarded a pension of 20 shillings per fortnight with effect from the same date and to expire on 17th January 1934.
- based on notes for the Great Sydney Central Station Honour Boaard
Click images to start slideshow.