DOUGLAS, Ernest Thompson
| Service Number: | WX32626 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 22 March 1938 |
| Last Rank: | Captain |
| Last Unit: | 28 Infantry Battalion AMF |
| Born: | Carlton, Victoria, Australia, 14 February 1908 |
| Home Town: | Not yet discovered |
| Schooling: | Perth Boys School, Western Australia |
| Occupation: | Wool Classer |
| Died: | Illness, Western Australia, Australia, 1 May 1947, aged 39 years |
| Cemetery: |
Karrakatta Cemetery & Crematorium, Western Australia |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club WW2 Honour Roll, Kings Park Western Australia State War Memorial |
World War 2 Service
| 22 Mar 1938: | Enlisted WX32626, 28 Infantry Battalion AMF | |
|---|---|---|
| 3 Sep 1939: | Involvement Captain, WX32626 |
Help us honour Ernest Thompson Douglas's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Geoff Tilley
Ernest Thompson Douglas also known as Stump was born in February 1908 in Carlton, Victoria to parents Thompson Douglas and Ada Louisa Douglas, nee Till. He was one of four siblings.
Ernest attended Perth Boys School Perth and during his teenager years was involved in swimming and surf lifesaving at Cottesloe.
He held a record for the fastest times in the swim throughs at Perth, Como and Fremantle. He was twice the WA State Champion Surfer. He had a swimming reputation where he was named as one of WA’s greatest ever surf team.
Ernest worked in the agriculture industry becoming a qualified wool classer. He also prospected on the goldfields of Kalgoorlie and in the family store as a greengrocer in Como.
It was in 1933 in Perth Ernest married Marjorie Helen Ritchie where they had three daughters.
Ernest enlisted into the Militia in March 1938 from Moora where he joined the Citizens Military Forces (CMF) fulltime in 1941 with the rank of temporary Captain.
It was in 1942 that Ernest then transferred into the second Australian Imperial Forces (AIF), where he was promoted to Captain.
Ernest conducted the majority of his military service within Australia attached to the 28th Infantry Battalion.
It was in December 1944 that he embarked for overseas service to New Britain, Papua New Guinea.
He returned to Australia in November 1945 before he was discharged from military service in April 1946.
After his military service, Ernest with his wife lived on a small farm in Chidlow until his death in May 1947 from illness.
Captain Ernest Thompson Douglas, Service number WX32626 of 28th Infantry Battalion died of heart failure on the 1st May 1947. He was 39 years of age.
He is commemorated at Karrakatta Crematorium, Perth and is remembered with honour.
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