Duncan MacDougall (abt. 1912 - 1942)

Born about 31 Aug 1912 in Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland, United Kingdom

Died 1 Jul 1942 at about age 29 in At Sea

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Duncan MacDougall was a Prisoner of War during World War II.

Duncan MacDougall died as a prisoner of war on the Montevideo Maru during the Second World War.

Biography

Duncan claimed he was born in 1912 in Glasgow, the only son of Dugald and Ellen MacDougall. No birth registration in that name has been identified for that year.

He enlisted in the Australian Army for overseas service at Caulfield, VIC on 20 Jun 1940 as a Sapper (VX23298), initially allocated to the 2/3rd Field Coy, Royal Australian Engineers. At the time he was single, a salesman and was living with his father in Williamstown, VIC. He had fair hair and grey eyes.

In 1941 he became engaged to Catherine Mary (Catha) Berry of Williamstown, VIC.^[1]

During training he was identified for commando training and was transferred to the Infantry Training Centre at Foster, VIC.

He was transferred to No. 1 Independent Coy (a commando unit) as a Private on 10 May 1941.

He embarked on HMAT "Zealandia" on 12 Jul 1941 for Kavieng, New Ireland in the Territory of New Guinea, disembarking there on 29 Jul 1941.

When the Japanese invaded New Ireland on 23 Jan 1942 he was probably with the bulk of the Coy who escaped overland to Kaut on the south coast and boarded the "Induna Star" on 29 Jan 1942 before making their way along the coast of New Ireland heading to Rabaul. When they learned that Rabaul had fallen and hearing that the Japanese had landed to the east of them (false) the ship sailed south. It was spotted by a Japanese aircraft, bombed and taken under tow by a Japanese destroyer on 02 Feb 1942 and entered Rabaul on 03 Feb 1942 where he became a Prisoner of War, initially held at Rabaul.

He died on board the "Montevideo Maru" when it was torpedoed and sunk off the coast of the Philippines on 01 Jul 1942, en route from Rabaul to Hainan where he was destined for forced labour.

Sources

1. ↑ Engagement Announced (1941, June 25). The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), p. 5. Retrieved March 15, 2020, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article205146299

• WW2 Australian Army Service File - National Archives of Australia - MACDOUGALL DUNCAN : Service Number - VX23298 : Date of birth - 31 Aug 1912 : Place of birth - GLASGOW SCOTLAND : Place of enlistment - CAULFIELD VIC : Next of Kin - MACDOUGALL DUGALD - http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/AutoSearch.asp?O=I&Number=6226602

• Deaths On Active Service - Family Notices (1945, October 17). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), p. 2. Retrieved March 15, 2020, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article12147619

• Roll of Honour - Australian War Memorial - https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1684057

• https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2615956/mcdougall,-duncan/