Thomas Francis Doughty
Stephen LearmonthThomas Francis Doughty was born on 16th June 1886 in Tumbarumba, NSW, to Robert William and Sarah Ann, nee Griffiths. He would be the second eldest of ten children.
On 24th August 1914, he enlisted at Melbourne, Victoria. At the time, he was a single, 26-year-old labourer from Tumbarumba, NSW. He was allocated Regimental Number 2837 and placed in No. 3 Section of the 1st Divisional Ammunition Column. Thomas gave his next of kin as his mother, Sarah Doughty. After initial training, he embarked on HMAT A9 Shropshire at Melbourne, Victoria, on 20th October 1914.
Thomas’ health problems started in late March of 1915. He would spend one month in No.3 General Hospital, Cairo, suffering from pleurisy. By late December of 1916, things had become serious, and by August of 1917, he had been classified as unfit for general service and to return to Australia. Thomas’ medical summary on board HMAT Karoola summed up his condition.
“Patient had discharge from L. ear about 7 years ago. No more trouble until after enlistment, Went suddenly deaf at Gallipoli from noise of guns, but condition later imporved. Later acute otitis media which cleared up. First noticed attack of giddiness, headache and vomitting Oct. 1916. Still gets these attacks with a few days interval between, During attacks objects move from right to left with his head upright, and from above, downwards, when he is in bed. Deafness and tinnitus in right ear during attack.”
He was diagnosed as suffering from Meniere's Symptom Complex, a chronic, progressive inner ear disorder and was labelled as having a 75% incapacity.
On 3rd July 1917, he returned to Australia aboard HMAT A63 Karoola, with the rank of Driver. He was discharged on 5th November 1917, being awarded the 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal for his service during the war.
He passed away on 18th December 1920 at Wagga Wagga, NSW and was buried in Tumbarumba General Cemetery, NSW. Thomas’ obituary appeared in the December 24th 1920 edition of the Tumbarumba Times.
“Very general regret was felt throughout the district on Saturday last, when it became known that the death had occurred in Wagga Hospital of Driver Thomas Doughty, from the after results of shell-shock and other complications incurred in the war.
Deceased was the second son of Mr and Mrs R.W. Doughty, of Tumbarumba Creek, Tumbarumba, and had been an inmate of the Wagga Hospital prior to his death, which took place at 6 a.m. on Saturday morning.
Everything possible was done for him and his mother remained with him till the last. The funeral took place on Sunday in the Church of England portion of the Tumbarumba cemetery, Mr R. H. Sullivan reading the service in the absence of the Rector, who was away at the Batlow Soldiers’ Settlement. The cortege was a very lengthy one.
Driver Doughty was amongst the first to answer the call, for he enlisted on the 21st of August, 1914, and sailed for the front on 20th October of the same year. He was in the Gallipoli Campaign and for some time in France, taking part in the great fight at Bullecourt. He was nearly three years at the war, returning to Australia at the end of September, 1917. Deceased, at the time of his death, was 34 years of age.
A memorial service for the deceased soldier will be held at St. Jude’s Church, Tumbarumba, on Sunday, 9th January, at 11 a.m.
Sympathy for his parents and relatives is widespread.
Both the Archdeacon and Rev. Chauvel visited him constantly during his illness.”
