| Rank | Lieutenant, Captain |
| Service # | 358556 |
| Unit # | 1st Hussars, CEF |
| 24th Reg. | Yes |
| Resident | Chatham |
Born: 2/08/1879 at Kent County, ON. RG 150, Accession 1992-93, Box 2621-6, Item: 358556, PDF: B2621-S006. His Next of Kin: Miss J. E. Douglas (sister) living at Cedar Springs, Kent Co., ON. At the time of his enlistment he was a single farmer at R.R.#1, Blenheim, ON. His attestation at Valcartiar, PQ. 22/09/14. Age 35 years, 5’6”. Prior to his enlistment in the CEF he was a Lieutenant in the 24th Kent Regt., Chatham, ON.
Lieutenant Donald E. Douglas was a trooper in the 1st. Hussars, London, from June 1897 to August 1901, when he received his commission with this unit and qualified as Captain in the Cavalry. In October 1911 he received his commission with the 24th. Kent Regiment and qualified as Captain in the Infantry. In September 1915 he qualified as Field Officer in the Canadian Militia.
Lieutenant Donald E. Douglas went overseas with the 1st. Contingent September 22, 1914, proceeding to France February 7th, 1915. He received wounds about March 10th, 1915, evacuating from France March 18th, 1915. He left St. Thomas Hospital, London, England in June 1915, and was invalided to Canada July 6, 1915. He returned to England in January 1916 qualified as Instructor in Musketry, Trench warfare, Bombing, Lewis Machine Gun, Anti Gas, and Range finding. With the rank of Captain he acted as Quartermaster of the Canadian Pioneer Training Depot from February 11th to August 25, 1916; He commanded a company on the 25th. Reserve Battalion from February 1st to September 10, 1917; command a Depot company in the Western Ontario Depot from October 10, 1917, to January 28, 1918. He returned to Canada on February 1, 1918.
Donald sailed with the 1st Contingent CEF on 22/09/14. After training in England he was shipped to France and was reported slightly wounded while serving with the 1st Battalion CEF at the Battle of Fleurbaix 7 & 8/03/15 he was issued a special boot.. He was reported being at Bromley Canadian Hospital 23/06/15 suffering from a GSW to his thigh, scrotum and thumb. At his ‘Medical Board’ 23/06/15 and discharged 17/11/16. he was “fit for light duty”. “Armour Cpl. of the 1st Batt. while examining the revolver of the officer in question, accidentally discharged the same wounding Lieut in the testicles.” Reported by Sgt. P. W. Hory.
The CDP: 22/06/17 reported that Captain. ‘Don’ Douglas ‘makes special reference to a number of the ‘Old Fighting First’. The Captain of 25th Reserve Batt. at Bramshott, Hants 20/15/17 it reads:
“I am going to ask a favor of you for the First action. But for concerts, etc. Nearly every other battalion.”
Lieut. Douglas was at Shorcliffe Hospital with a deformed toe, a result of a GSW to the foot 7/10/16. He was discharged from Grenville Hospital at Ramsgate, England 14/10/16 to the Canadian Pioneers.
The Old Battalion never had a band, and a band behind the lines is quite a treat for the boys only in marching but for concerts etc. Nearly every other battalion was given sufficient grant to supply, but ours got nothing.
A total of $750.00 from Major Thomas, of Amherstburg, took the responsibility on his shoulders and has shipped them to the 1st Battalion in France.
I am delighted to have raised – (100.00) from Chatham.
His next trip to hospital would be to No. 12 Canadian General Hospital at Ramsgate for treatment for Epilepsy. He was 38 at the time and discharged 14/01/18. His last hospitalization was for Influenza and he had four attacks before passing out and taken to the L.M.C.H. by ambulance. He would be S.O.S. (Struck Off Strength) and received an honourable discharge 8/03/1918 to Canada 25/03/18 “Medically Unfit.”
He would reach Canada and was promoted to the rank of Captain “Fit for Home Service” 26/08/18 and T.O.S. (Taken On Strength at No. 1 District, London, ON. Capt. Douglas was discharged as “Medically Unfit”.
Captain Donald E. Douglas received his honourable discharge March 8, 1918, on recommendation of the Medical Board as medically unfit for service.
In February 1921 he was appointed Clerk of the County Court as well as local registrar of the Supreme Court and registrar of the Surrogate Court.
In 1923 he took over one of the detachments of the 2nd Canadian Machine Gun Battalions and stayed until 1928.
Captain Douglas would pass away 15 January, 1951, interment at the Crawford Cemetery, Cedar Springs.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
| Sources | IODE(P), Chatham Daily Planet (24-09-1914), Chatham Daily Planet (30-11-1914), Chatham Daily Planet (09-03-1915), Chatham Daily Planet (17-03-1915), Chatham Daily Planet (27-03-1915), Chatham Daily Planet (28-06-1915), Chatham Daily Planet (06-07-1915), Chatham Daily Planet (07-07-1915), Chatham Daily Planet (14-10-1916) |
| Height | 5' 6''1/8 |
| Eye Colour | Brown |
| Age | 35 |
| Complexion | Fair |
| Hair | Red |
| Race | White |
| Birthplace | Cedar Springs, Ontario. |
| Religion | Presbyterian |
| Last Place of Employment | Farmer at Cedar Springs |
| Average Earnings | $2000.00 per year |
| Marital Status | Single |
| When Enlisted | August 8th, 1914 |
| Where Enlisted | Chatham, Ontario |
| Next of Kin | Sister- Miss J. E. Douglas, Cedar Springs |
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