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Sergeant Stanley McDougall VC

Sergeant Stanley McDougall VC
Sergeant Stanley McDougall VC

Date of birth: 23 July 1889
Place of birth: Recherche, TAS
Date of death: 7 July 1968
Place of death: Scottsdale, TAS
Unit: 47th Battalion, 12th Brigade, 4th Division
Date of Action: 28 March 1918
Place of Action: Dernancourt France

Stan McDougall was born on 23 July 1889 in Recherche Tasmania and became a blacksmith. He was knows as an excellent horseman, marksman and bushman.

He enlisted in the 47th Battalion in August 1915 and fought at Pozières, Messines and Broodseinde. He was promoted to sergeant in January 1918.

At Dernancourt, on the 28 March 1918, when he saw the enemy knock out a Lewis gun position, he attacked two German machine-gun teams, killing their crews by "hosing" them with the Lewis. He then attacked a second wave of Germans, burning his hands on the hot barrel casing of his gun. When a German officer aimed his pistol at some Australians, McDougall killed him with a rifle and bayonet. Twenty-two Germans were killed and 30 were captured, largely as the result of McDougall's actions.

Eight days later, at the same place, McDougall won the Military Medal, taking over the platoon when his commander was killed. In August of 1918 McDougall was presented his Victoria Cross at Windsor Castle by King George V.

After the war McDougall got married in 1926 and became an officer with the Tasmanian Forestry Department, and later, while inspector-in-charge of forests in north-east Tasmania, performed outstanding work during bushfire periods. He died at Scottsdale in 1968.