Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Doug was the first-born son of Lucretia Edith ‘Lou’ and John Francis Maher, born at Lameroo on the 31st January 1913. His siblings included Max Colin, Mervyn Frank, Joan, Dean Gordon and Lois.
Their father had enlisted as a 20-year-old to serve in WWI as 177 in the 17th Infantry Battalion where he rose to be a Lance Corporal in the 1st Field Ambulance Hospital Unit and served in France. He eventually became a ‘blocker’ at Renmark on what was named Block E.
The children were successful students at the Renmark West School, then the Renmark High School with Doug showing this potential from Grade 1 when he was placed in the top four students in his class. By Grade IV he was placed second in his class, also proving to be a highly talented sportsman, eventually earning the nickname of ‘Dasher’ for his speed.
At the conclusion of the school year the staff, parents and students would celebrate with a picnic at various locations, including the nearby Lyrup Flats. Lorries assembled at the school and in an era pre-seatbelt, transported students and parents in the back section. On arrival, the students would be given a bun, orange and sweets. Various races were conducted with Doug showing his speed in the flat races, three legged and 100 yard sprints. By the time Doug was at High School he was a clear winner of the Junior Boy’s Championship Cup in ’36 with a remarkable total of 23 points. (The runner up scored 14.) These were earned in the 220 yards run with a time of 30 seconds, the 100 yards in 12.75 seconds, Hurdles, 440 yards in 75 seconds and Broad Jump with a distance of 13 feet 3 inches. That same year, Doug and his school were triumphant during the State Centenary Celebrations at Renmark by scoring impressive aggregate wins In both the Area Day Sports and the School Bands contest. Doug was a clear winner in the Junior100 yards run and his brother, Max in the Grade VI 100 yards.
Unfortunately, the following end of year celebrations were curtailed with an outbreak of Polio (infantile paralysis). That year Doug again won the Athletics trophy, with the awards distributed without the usual celebrations.
Doug was also a talented sportsman in team games, including cricket and football. He played for Renmark, including a cricket match in February ’41where the partnership between Doug and Maloney was described as exceptionally solid with one Berri player commenting that ‘Doug Maher had a bat "three feet wide." The pair posted 50 runs in 40 minutes and their first 100 coming up in 70 minutes. Doug was finally caught at 87 made in 85 minutes, with the partnership making 173 runs. The local reporter described Doug’s efforts as ‘Blending sound- defence with discrete aggression, the Chaffey lad was never in real trouble.’ Doug had just turned 18 at this stage. By April that year, the Renmark RSL conducted their annual cycling and athletics carnival, which followed the morning’s Anzac Day celebrations. The proceeds were to be split between the Red Cross and Fighting Forces Comfort Fund. A contest between Doug and fellow Renmark athlete, Allan Marshall was keenly anticipated. (Allan, a cellar hand for Angove’s winery also later enlisted in May ’41 as S39412).
In January that year, a huge search was underway for a local Renmark shop assistant, 16-year-old Enid Margaret Pannach who had been staying with Adelaide based relatives. Fortunately, after a fortnight she was found and returned to Renmark where she and the family continued to be actively involved in fund raising for the Methodist Church and in later years, as part of the ‘Jonnie-Jones Vauderville Show’ which raised funds for the Renmark District Hospital.
‘With WWII erupting, Doug’s 46-year-old father almost immediately volunteered for service as S2880 on the 25th June ‘41, working at the Loveday Internment Camp at Renmark. He was promoted to Corporal on the 17th September ’45 as the war came to a close, before finally being discharged on the 31st May ’46.
Doug, who had been working as a shed hand, was the next to enlist on the 7th March ’42, being given the number SX17852, initially with the 25th Labour Company. Unfortunately, in July he contracted mumps and was hospitalised before then returning to Chaffey in August to have precious leave with his family.
Embarking from Melbourne at the end of that month, Doug arrived in the Middle East in February ’42 when he was immediately allocated to the 2/48th Battalion. A year later, the battalion returned to Australia via Melbourne in February.
Younger brother, Max enlisted the following month, on the 10th March ’43. He had previously served as S26236, then became SX29208 whilst at Mataranka in the Northern Territory. The following day, Private Doug and Enid Pannach announced their engagement. At a Spring Ball in September, Max was honoured with the presentation of a wallet and other gifts. As part of the speeches, comment was made that “Max’s brother Doug, who was now serving overseas, and they were the sons of an old Digger who served in the last war and now was in uniform again.”
For Doug, training in the humidity of Queensland followed. He and the 9th Division and were then sent to New Guinea, in August of 1943, disembarking at Milne Bay to face a totally different enemy and in a very different setting.
In November, Doug’s fiancée, Enid was enjoying a day at the Victoria Park Races, when her handbag was snatched from under her arm. The thief tripped and was arrested, being later gaoled for six weeks. At the same time on the 17th in New Guinea, Doug was in a massive, frontal fight for Coconut Ridge. His Company faced machine gun fire on the ground and snipers hidden in the trees in an encounter to take control of Fougasse Corner. Doug was extremely fortunate to survive a grenade attack. A detailed photo, held in the Australian War Memorial has the very factual description; ‘Australian troops moved in behind Matilda tanks for a dawn attack on the Japanese held village of Sattelberg. Australian troops advance through the jungle in the wake of the tanks. The wounded man is making his way back from the Front. the others are moving forward to go in for the attack. The wounded man is believed to be SX17852 Private Douglas Cameron Maher of the 2/48th Battalion. He had been wounded by a grenade at Finschhafen and suffered head, back and arm injuries. He was bandaged at an aid post and told to walk back to a field post. He was operating an Owen machine gun when wounded and his sergeant took over the machine gun and he retreated with the sergeant's .303 rifle.’
Back home, the local Murray Pioneer early in December reported that ‘SX17852 Pte. Douglas Maher, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Maher, of Chafley, has been wounded in action in New Guinea. The parents have received official notification of this from the authorities. - Private Maher served in the Middle East, returning to Renmark last February. before leaving again for the field of action. Last night Mrs. Maher said she had just received a letter, dated December 1, from her son, stating that he had been hit twice. One wound was in his back and the other in the head. He was in hospital in New Guinea when he wrote the letter. He stated that his wounds were not serious and that he was doing well. Mr. Maher, a soldier of the last war, is away from Renmark doing Garrison duty. Their second son, Dvr. Maher is with the forces somewhere -in Australia.
The December 9th ’43 issue of the Chronicle gave the names of those from the 2/48th who were also involved. Killed In Action.— SX7651 Pte. Ronald G. Bowen. Burra; SX12975 Pte. Arnold C. Kerber. Mount Torrens; SX13763 Pte. Eric K. Reynolds, Novar Gardens. Wounded In Action.— SX6837 L-Sgt. Dean H. Adams. Forestville; SX7093 Lt/Sgt. Norman L. Badman, Pinnaroo; SX15377 Pte. William V. Davidson. Mitcham; SX7629 Pte. Charles H. Hewitt. Tumby Bay: SX17852 Pte. Douglas C. Maher. Renmark; SX7292 Pte. Angus J. McMahon, Mitcham; SX17621 Pte. Clarence T. Pickett. Ardrossan; SX7690 Pte. Fredrick. C. Serle, Robe. Seriously Ill.— SX7885 Lt. Angus C. Dodd, Glenelg.
By March ’44 Doug and his brother Driver Max were able to return home on leave to spend time with their parents at Chafey.
Despite injuries to his loin, left scalp and arm after being hospitalised, Doug was classified as proficient at the start of July and was able to return to Brisbane in February the following year.
Unfortunately, in April he contracted malaria, spending several weeks at Kapara Convalescent home at Glenelg to help him recuperate. An extremely high temperature (Pyrexia of Unknown Origin) and malaria returned before Doug was able to rejoin the 2/48th Battalion. Uncharacteristically, in September ’44 Doug was confined to barracks for two weeks for ‘conduct to the prejudice of good order and military discipline’. By December he was again confined to barracks for three days for failing to attend a parade.
However, he continued to serve and left Townsville for Morotai in April ’45, for Tarakan. An obvious leader, Doug was briefly appointed Lance Corporal, but the hidden brain injury probably caused him to ask to revert to Private status. A further week of being confined to barracks followed Doug leaving a parade before his replacement’s arrival. A decision was finally made to re-post Doug in December, with him returning to South Australia.
Just prior to being discharged on the 22nd May ’46, Doug and Enid announced their marriage at the Renmark Methodist Church on Wednesday January 9th, at 7 p.m.

Doug returned to playing the sports he loved. In the ’47 cricket season he took a creditable four wickets for 17 runs and in another match played a very plucky innings, and held the Renmark side together, his 38 being particularly valuable.
In football he was praised for playing soundly in defence against Glenelg. Doug also played in a pre-season match against West Adelaide. His speed was also evident with local scribes commenting that ‘Doug. Maher, of Renmark, excelled himself, and relieved time and again with splendid dash and always got the ball away to a man.’ A further report commented that ‘In his defensive role against Berri Renmark's sprinter, Doug Maher, dogged his opponent relentlessly and was instrumental in cramping his style considerably.
The following year, arch-rivals, Loxton, won their third successive premiership, in a tight game where ‘Maher was as speedy as ever until he left the field with an injury.’

Doug played the following ’49 season on the half back flank, where he was praised for doing ‘fine work’. His years of war service, however continued to return, with a recurrence of malaria leaving him bedridden for the week, but he still played for his beloved Renmark. However, January ’50 brought the arrival of the first of three children, Barry. Kay, Allan and Kym followed in later years.
The bandaged head injury Doug had received in New Guinea and which he described as ‘not serious’ was totally the reverse. The concussion became evident in June ‘51 when Doug disappeared. The Mail sought the help of the public to find Doug.’ Adelaide CIB have been asked to help trace well-known Renmark footballer Douglas C. Maher. who has been missing for more than a week. Maher, a 28-year-old returned soldier, left his Renmark home on his bicycle, which was later found on Sturt Highway, near the Lyrup turn-off. He suffers from a war injury. His description is 5 ft. 9 in., medium build, fair hair and complexion.’
Within days the same newspaper was able to report that ‘Missing Renmark footballer Douglas Cameron Maher, was located at Truro yesterday in unusual circumstances.
He stepped out of the Crown Hotel to hail a passing car and found his wife was a passenger. Mrs. Maher had been to Adelaide with friends searching for her husband, a war neurosis victim. Maher, who was widely known as "Phar Lap" on the football field, disappeared from his home on May 25. At 8.30 a.m. yesterday the licensee of the Crown Hotel at Truro answered the door and immediately recognised Maher, who apparently had been suffering from loss of memory. His mother was contacted at Renmark. Maher said he would return home immediately and waited in front of the hotel for a ride. At 10.30 a.m. his wife and friends picked him up.’
Aged just 42, Enid died on the 7th June ’66 and was buried in the Renmark Cemetery. Doug lived to be 82. He died on the 14th November 1995 and is now with Enid.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.