DOUGLAS, Tom Bader
| Service Number: | 42628 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 4 May 1964 |
| Last Rank: | Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 4th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (4RAR) |
| Born: | Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, 30 January 1942 |
| Home Town: | Torrensville, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Adelaide Boys High School, South Australia |
| Occupation: | Electrician |
| Died: | Heart Failure, Torrensville, South Australia, 1 May 2023, aged 81 years |
| Cemetery: |
Drumminor Gardens Ridgehaven South Australia |
| Memorials: |
Malayan Emergency Service
| 4 May 1964: | Enlisted Australian Army (Post WW2), Private, 42628 |
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Malaysia / Indonesia Confrontation Service
| 1 Mar 1965: | Involvement Australian Army (Post WW2), Lance Corporal, 42628, 4th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (4RAR), Served with 4 RAR in the Malaya and Borneo Conflict with Chinese and Indonesians. Family were based in Malacca Malaysia during this posting overseas. |
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Vietnam War Service
| 21 May 1968: | Involvement Australian Army (Post WW2), Corporal, 42628 | |
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| 1 Jun 1968: | Involvement Australian Army (Post WW2), Corporal, 42628, 4th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (4RAR), Served 12 months in Vietnam in various campaigns. |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by shane douglas
Tom decided to join the Australian Army in his mid 20's, after completeing his Apprenticeship as an Electrician, for a local TV repair company in Adelaide. He joined 4 RAR at Woodside S.A. when the Government decided to raise, for the first time, a "home grown" Australian Army Regiment.It was whilst on a posting to Brisbane, prior to deplayment to Malaya & Boreno, that he met a nurse and they married April 1962.
He showed leadership qualities from the outset and loyalty to his section troops. He also demonstrated a quirky sense of humour, but was serious in training, when it came time that the Regiment was being sent overseas.
He grew his craft skills, adjusting to the tropical conditions in preparedness for deployment to South Vietnam, whilst in Borneo and Malaya.
Shortly after arriving in South Vietnam with the Regiment, D Company was sent out on patrol, and his section was the first to suffer KIA. He was greatly affected and swore that he was going to do everything possible to see his troop return home safely.
He taught his men how to set up claymores for maximum affect when laying ambushes. Years later soldiers that served with him said that the extra help and training he gave saved their lives on some "very hairy situations".
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