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Alfred Theodore Douglass - Information

The Douglass family had lived in Denham Court in the late 1800s. Born in Liverpool in 1890 to George and Sarah Douglass, Alfred grew up in the Campbelltown area. The Douglass family then relocated to Ivenleigh in Castle Hill. Here, Alfred supported himself as a farmer. He and his older brother, Ernest, then decided to sign up for war service. They enlisted in the AIF on the 3rd of October 1916 at the Royal Showground Camp. Alfred and Ernest were made Drivers with the Engineer Reinforcements in early October. Receiving their travel orders, they left for Europe as part of the Field Company Engineers. They departed Sydney onboard the HMAT Suevic on the 11th of November 1916.

The Suevic sailed into Devonport on the 30th of January 1917, from which Alfred and Ernest were marched into Details Camp at Perham Downs. In mid May, they were transported to the front in France. They were stationed to Etaples, before joining the 13th Field Company Engineers on the 11th of June. Shortly afterwards, Ernest was transferred to the 4th Signal Company. After some time in the unsanitary conditions in the trenches, Alfred reported to hospital in late October with scabies and impetigo. He was released from hospital on the 30th of November, however, on Christmas Eve, returned with pyrexia. In March 1918, he was again suffering with scabies. On the 26th of September, he was transferred to the 4th Signal Company, reuniting with his brother. Alfred was ordered back to Australia on the 16th of June 1919 and was discharged in September.