CLARENCE (Clarry) FREDERICK McDOUGALL, of Cooyar
In Egypt training for Gallipoli push
Enlisted Toowoomba 22/8/1914, aged 22 years and 10 months
Service No. 142943
|2nd Light Horse, B Division | 4th Division Artillery
| 49th Battalion | 2nd American Army Corps
Landed Gallipoli May 9, 1915
Wounded at Monash Gully June 1915 and again Dardanelles at in July, 1915, this one requiring hospitalisation aboard ship in Malta. Court Martial – AWOL (missed a roll call): found not guilty, though his mate copped it!
He was promoted through ranks from private to lieutenant.
Clarry was awarded a Military Cross while acting as Battalion Transport Officer, taking supplies – including munitions – by truck and pack mules to the forward and support lines at Broodseinde Ridge through heavy enemy shelling from 9-14 October 1917 and again on 17-19 October 1917.
Service No. 142943
|2nd Light Horse, B Division | 4th Division Artillery
| 49th Battalion | 2nd American Army Corps
Landed Gallipoli May 9, 1915
Wounded at Monash Gully June 1915 and again Dardanelles at in July, 1915, this one requiring hospitalisation aboard ship in Malta. Court Martial – AWOL (missed a roll call): found not guilty, though his mate copped it!
He was promoted through ranks from private to lieutenant.
Clarry was awarded a Military Cross while acting as Battalion Transport Officer, taking supplies – including munitions – by truck and pack mules to the forward and support lines at Broodseinde Ridge through heavy enemy shelling from 9-14 October 1917 and again on 17-19 October 1917.
Recommendations (edited) from his Battalion, Brigade and Division senior officers read in part:
“He, with Captain Cadell, on the night of 9th October brought his transport through an exceptionally heavy enemy barrage. His coolness and courage were the means of getting the battalion supplies up intact. This officer on the night 12th October displayed the same admirable courage and his devotion to duty is worthy of some distinction being conferred upon him … (through) his determination, he never once failed in delivering rations and supplies to the front line troops. His never flagging energy and constant care have kept the battalion transport in a high state of efficiency.”
Clarry had two Mentions in Despatches, with other gallant conduct noted. His other honours include: Gallipoli Medallion, Star (service 1914/15) British War Medal, Victory Medal and an unnamed medallion from France (might not be military)
Clarry only found out about this award after a letter was sent to his next of kin, father Ronald on October 1919, and after notices had been published in the London Gazette (Jun 13) and Commonwealth of Australia Gazette (Sept 15). In December that year he wrote to the army seeking to know if “the Cross was now available” and seeking to have the investiture ceremony held in Toowoomba, preferably, or Brisbane.
His appointment was terminated on May 23 1919. In 1922 he was appointed as Honorary Lieutenant. Clarry also re-enlisted to serve with Imperial Army in Brisbane during World War II from August 14 1942 until his death on June 11 1945.
“He, with Captain Cadell, on the night of 9th October brought his transport through an exceptionally heavy enemy barrage. His coolness and courage were the means of getting the battalion supplies up intact. This officer on the night 12th October displayed the same admirable courage and his devotion to duty is worthy of some distinction being conferred upon him … (through) his determination, he never once failed in delivering rations and supplies to the front line troops. His never flagging energy and constant care have kept the battalion transport in a high state of efficiency.”
Clarry had two Mentions in Despatches, with other gallant conduct noted. His other honours include: Gallipoli Medallion, Star (service 1914/15) British War Medal, Victory Medal and an unnamed medallion from France (might not be military)
Clarry only found out about this award after a letter was sent to his next of kin, father Ronald on October 1919, and after notices had been published in the London Gazette (Jun 13) and Commonwealth of Australia Gazette (Sept 15). In December that year he wrote to the army seeking to know if “the Cross was now available” and seeking to have the investiture ceremony held in Toowoomba, preferably, or Brisbane.
His appointment was terminated on May 23 1919. In 1922 he was appointed as Honorary Lieutenant. Clarry also re-enlisted to serve with Imperial Army in Brisbane during World War II from August 14 1942 until his death on June 11 1945.
Clarry's photo and caption: “The small beach of ‘Anzac’ where all stores, men etc had to be landed. The piers have barricades of sandbags to protect the men working from the shrapnel that the Turks poured onto the beach both day and night. Most of the piles were driven in with an eleven-inch Turkish shell that did not explode.”
Cooyar cenotaph unveiled
Some of Clarrie’s letters home,
published in the Toowoomba Chronicle:
Race meeting at the front
The March to the Rhine
A daybreak surprise
My stuff
The March
Desert Dawn - a Deadly Rap
Some of Clarrie’s letters home,
published in the Toowoomba Chronicle:
Race meeting at the front
The March to the Rhine
A daybreak surprise
My stuff
The March
Desert Dawn - a Deadly Rap
Clarry's photo & caption: This is an enlargement of the famous Quinn’s Post (top left) where we were only 15 yards from the Turks. On hill you can see communication trenches leading up the hill. All thus is tunneled in which we lived and fought for weeks. Had only small holes to shoot from. Bottom left Pope’s post, top right Courtenay’s Post
|
“Grove and Butler in trench at Quinn’s post, ready to smother cricket ball bombs with blankets - this is where Gordon, Graham and Butler got hit.”
|
|
|
