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Of proud Scottish heritage, Donald was born on the 16th February 1901 in Woodville. He attended several schools, including Lefevre, Woodville and Adelaide High. Besides his academic studies, Don played cricket and football for each of these schools, also captaining Rosatala in the United Church Association, of Port Adelaide for three years. Living close to the sea, Don was a strong swimmer, gaining his bronze medallion for life-saving.
As a fifteen-year-old, in 1916 Don received an appointment as a ‘Monitor’ the first rung of his career with the Education Department. His achievements were in a broad range of subject covering the sciences, all aspects of maths, English and Modern History. In January ’20 Don started his teaching studies the Adelaide Teachers' Training College at Pennington Terrace, the start of a lifelong passion.
He began by undertaking a Science course starting with Pure Maths, Chemistry and Physics. The following year he added Logic, then in ’23 and 24 added Economics and Economic History, Psychology, English Language and Literature, Ethics and Geology. Rounding this out, in ’33 he completed studies in Geography. He spent over three years at Port Adelaide before then being promoted to the position of Demonstration Assistant at Gibes Street Practising School for nine months. He then qualified as a Chief Assistant at Rose Park School for a further four years during which he held the office of treasurer in the South Australian Public Schools’ Amateur Sports Association before being further promoted to Headmaster at Victor Harbour as a 28-year-old. Additionally, Don was a member and officer of the Semaphore Lewis Masonic Lodge.
In a short time, Don was being lauded for his skills in coordinating the School Carnival at Victor, receiving plaudits that the procession was the best ever seen in connection with the school. Over 100 children were in fancy dress, parading behind the school band which also improved greatly under Don’s baton. Besides teaching, he was conductor of the Victor Harbour Symphony Orchestra presenting a concert with proceeds in aid of the Southern Musical, Literary, and Dramatic Society. Don also revived the Municipal Band, was president of the Amateur Lifesaving and Swimming Club, a member of the Golf, Cricket and Tennis Clubs and the Lodge of Peace. He played football for the local Club where he was recognised as a prominent player, successfully leading the team whist also playing in a scrupulously fair manner.
He and wife Dorothy Jean welcomed both their children, John and Shirley while they were living at Victor. Dorothy was also the highly respected Vice President of the Mothers’ Club for five years.
Following six years at Victor, Don was then transferred to Yorketown Higher Primary for 1936. At his farewell he was praised as being a “Teacher, Citizen, Sportsmen, One of Nature’s Gentlemen.” Don had the enviable record of having all 130 students from his classes, pass their Qualifying Examinations (Q.C.). The only criticism made of him was that Don ‘Didn’t play two-up.’
Don was presented with a silver afternoon tea set as a memento from the Mothers’ Club. In his farewell speech, he commented that his time at Victor paid him threefold; by the Education Department, the character of the students and the friendship of the people he had met. In a quote that would typify his leadership throughout his teaching career and in the army, Don commented that individuals were like stones as by contact with each other, they wore off the rough edges. By association with the locals, this had cut both ways, wearing off the rough edges from himself.
At Yorketown Don’s son, John proved to be a strong academic, gaining honours in his mid-year Grade III exams in ’40. Don continued to improve the school’s ground to be viewed as one of the beauty spots of the town. Uniforms for the Pipe and Fife Band and the Basketball (netball) teams were instituted. Pet Shows, Arbor days, Annual Banquets, Combined Schools’ Concerts between the students from Yorketown, Edithburgh and Stansbury Schools were organised as were visits to Don’s previous Victor Harbour School, Mt. Lofty Ranges and in 1939 to the snow regions of Mt. Buffalo in Victoria. Excursions had a focus on factories, art galleries and museums, and geological features. Don also renovated the school buildings and was instrumental in the beautification of Memorial Park, little knowing he would soon be serving as an officer.
WWII Intervened. There was a strong push to encourage fit, single young men to enlist, especially those from country areas. Aged 39 Don enlisted 2nd August 1940, with his departure as Headmaster, greatly regretted by the whole community. A public farewell was held in the Local Town Hall with speeches made by the Community Concerts Committee on behalf of the Yorketown Brass Brand and the School; the sporting bodies, and the V.S.D. Glowing tributes were made on behalf of the School Committee, the Mothers' Association, children, and the Teaching Staff with each body making a presentation to Don and his wife. He was allocated the number SX9999 in the 2/48th Battalion. Several other local men were also placed in the same newly formed battalion, including Bill Lewis Jnr SX9395; a local farmer from Minlaton, Leslie Tonkin, SX6911; and Bank of Adelaide teller, William (Bill) Byrne SX9353. Alfred Domaschenz SX7836 a farmer from Yorketown had enlisted the previous month and was also in the 2/48th. (25-year-old Leslie was killed in action at Dimra, on the 1st May, just a year after he enlisted, one of 51 casualties suffered by the 2/48th Battalion. Alfred was wounded in action and post war drowned in the Torrens, counted as an official war death.)
Early days for the new enlistees were spent in the cold of the Pavilions, now part of the Royal Adelaide Showgrounds where ‘beds’ were straw filled hessian on wooden pallets. The new soldiers then headed to Woodside for preliminary training.
During October, enlistees returned home on pre-embarkation leave, with Don being farewelled back at Victor with other teachers from the school, including John Glenn SX10090 (who later was Mentioned in Despatches and so brilliantly wrote Tobruk to Tarakan, a tribute to the men with whom he served in the 2/48th Battalion.) The evening concluded with Auld Lang Syne. In mid -December, Don was graded as a Group II Intelligence and detached to Headquarters of the 9th Australian Division.
The new troops then boarded the Stratheden for the Middle East later that month, arriving on the 17th December. The 2/48th Battalion completed a few months training in Cyrenaica. The men settled into camps, but besides regular army duties was the need to quickly adapt to local conditions and the locals, who were certainly not pliable school students. John Glenn described later in Tobruk to Tarakan that the ‘Arabs were notorious for thieving – one night they even stole the hessian from around the latrines. Rifles had to be chained to tent poles when not in use, their bolts removed. One morning Privates L. Watson SX7360, Donald Carmichael (SX9999), Jack Abbott (SX9323), Edred Wreford (SX9605) and Norman Mellett (SX10164) returned to their tent to find their rifles gone, but in this case Major Bull was the “clifti wallad”, determined to give a starting example of the need for caution.’ Perhaps this was a salutary lesson for all four, as all survived the war.
One of Don’s first acts was to write home to the Yorketown community, through the Pioneer newspaper. ‘At Sea, "I am as fit as a fiddle and enjoying every second of the voyage, despite the bumping trip." He wishes to be remembered to his friends at Yorketown and gave his army address SX9999. Pte. D. R. Carmichael. B.H.Q., 2/48 Bn., Australian Imperial Forces.’ The battalion marched to Tobruk at the start of April 1941. There the dust, flies, heat, minimal water supplies and constant bombardment were quite a challenge to the fresh new enlistees who were later to become the highly respected Rats of Tobruk.
Don also wrote to those at Victor that year, with his letter published in the Victor Harbour Times, sharing that ‘at the time of writing, in company with Pte. Jack Glenn, just spent a week-end in Jerusalem. Mr. Carmichael sent kind regards to his Victor Harbour friends.’ Don’s wife was also actively involved in the Comforts Fund units as secretary of the 2/48th Battalion group which met fortnightly at Torrens Hall. The meetings were a way to share news of the troops among relatives of soldiers and discuss their common interests.
Over the following months, Don rose through the ranks from Corporal to Sergeant in April ’42. With the battalion’s time in the Middle East coming to an end, Don returned to Australia via Melbourne in March ’43. Home on leave, then Sergeant, Don spent time at Victor, doing similarly in March ’44 by visiting Yorketown as a Lieutenant.
The following year, Don was officially Mentioned in Despatches "in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the Middle East during the period May to October 1942." This was publicly shared in the Pioneer in September ’43. At the time, Don had completed his training in Queensland in preparation for service in the tropical conditions of New Guinea, to face a very different enemy.
As a Lieutenant, Don arrived in Milne Bay in August ’43. Later back in Townsville, Queensland, Don was made an Education Officer with the 9th Australian Division with the rank of temporary Captain. (By January ’46 he was granted the honorary rank of Captain.) He briefly returned to Lae in the latter part of ’45 before being discharged in November that year.
Ever proud of his Scottish heritage, when his daughter, Shirley married in June ’51 a Stuart tartan ribbon was especially sent from Scotland and tied to the bridal posy. She was piped in and out of Scot’s Church as part of the ceremony. Her brother, John was best man for Colin Moss, the groom.
Don returned to study gaining his Diploma in Arts and Education in ’49 whilst resuming teaching at Mitcham, then Challa Gardens in 1950. He was Master of Method at the Sturt Street and Netley Demonstration Schools. In 1950, as vice-president of the Teachers’ Union, Don was one of the major proponents supporting the introduction of a spelling book designed by Professor Fred Schonell and used in England. Don was also loud in his support of extended training of teachers, rather than the short-term appointing of Temporary teachers, who held only a Qualifying Certificate.
By ’54 Don was appointed to Westbourne Park where he was instrumental in having flashing warning traffic lights installed, as did Mitcham Infant School. The incentive was supported and partially funded by the News and the Mail, providing £1,500 to the first 75 schools that raised £50 towards the cost. With Don at the helm, the school committee were quick to raise their portion. Don also had big plans for the school to build a concrete 30 feet by 20 feet pool at the side of the school, costing £500. The dual purpose was for teaching children to swim and to instruct students from the Teachers' Training College to give children swimming lessons. Don was a strong proponent and leader in the drive supported by the Commonwealth National Fitness Council to increase Physical Education in schools – well ahead of his times.
That same year, as then President of the SA Institute of Teachers, Don was at the forefront of the drive for South Australian teachers to be paid the same rate as those in Victoria and NSW. He promoted increases of £170 a year for assistant teachers rising to £300 for senior officers of the Education Department including headmasters, inspectors, and head office seniors. This incentive, he argued would help attract qualified teachers and relieve the current shortage.
In ’52 Don was one of eleven SA ex-servicemen who marched with Australian contingents in four New Zealand cities on Anzac Day. He marched in Wellington to highlight the alliance between Australia and New Zealand, the ANZACS. Don and Dorothy were also official guests that year at the Royal Caledonian Society Pipe Band Clansmen’s Ball at the Palais where a mix of marching and piping by the band, sword dancing, and Scottish dances were a feature.
His first love being teaching and the well-being of teachers, Don rose became the President of the SA Institute of Teachers. By ’54 he was strongly advocating for a higher standard of housing for those staff sent to country areas. He argued that without this, it would be extremely difficult in the future to adequately staff country offices, which would then adversely affect the service received by country people.
Aged 64, on the 5th January ’66 and a month prior to his planned retirement from the Education Department, Donald Ross Carmichael, died of a heart attack at the wheel of his car while driving to Adelaide from Victor Harbour. His car subsequently crashed into a tree. He was buried privately in the Centennial Park West Rose Garden in plot W26, position 21.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.