Distinguished Conduct Medal named 9966 SJT D DOUGAN CAM HIGHRS, Military Medal named Bar 9966 SJT D DOUGAN CAM HIGHRS, 1914/15 Star named S-9966 PTE D DOUGAN CAMERONS, British War & Victory Medals (S 9966 PTE D DOUGAN CAMERONS, WW2 1939/45 Star & War Medal boots naming 352621 W/O D. Dougan RAF. WW1 medals officially issued 1926.
DCM LG 2nd Dec 1919: For most conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty whilst in command of a platoon during the advance of the 28th September 1918 and subsequent fighting. He captured an enemy machine gun single handed thus relieving his platoon from a great danger. Later he handled his platoon splendidly under heavy machine-gun fire, pushing forward and inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy. He showed most able and determined leadership whereby he saved many casualties.
MM LG 27th Jun 1918. The citation was published in theMilngavie and Bearsden Heraldon 14 March 1919: At Givenchy: Awarded the Military Medal on April 15th, 1918. While in charge of the platoon, the company came under heavy machine-gun and shell fire. Sergt. Dougan organised and led a bombing party against a pill-box which was holding up the whole attack. He inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy, thus enabling his comrades and himself to advance.
MM Second Award Bar LG12th Mar 1919. The above source continues: Kemmell: Awarded Bar to Military Medal, 10th May, 1918, for going out under shell fire and carrying water to extinguish a fire which was caused in a shell dump by the enemy’s barrage. The quick action of Sergt. Dougan saved the company from great casualties.
David Dougan born in the Parish of High Knightswood, Lanark, in 1894, and attested for the Cameron Highlanders at Glasgow on 15 August 1914. After training sent to France with the 5th Battalion on 10 May 1915, promoted to L/Cpl on 17 June 1915 and was wounded in action on 15 October 1915 with a bullet wound to his forehead and admitted to No. 10 Casualty Clearing Station. Transferred to the 28th Field Ambulance and recorded temporarily unfit for active service soon thereafter. Sent to Base Details at Boulogne in early December 1915. Dougan was tried by Court Martial for drunkenness and found guilty; sentenced to 21 days’ field punishment No. 1, his record notes transfer to Etaples as ‘prisoner’ on 12 December 1915.
Suffering from headaches, Dougan rejoined his unit in January 1916 and returned to the Western Front. Wounded in action again on 15 July 1916 with gun shot would to his hand and was evacuated to England to recover. Rejoining his comrades, he was wounded on a third occasion on 6 April 1918 - suffering a gunshot wound to the foot - but returned from hospital in June 1918 only to be struck down by a stomach illness. Recovered, he was thrice decorated over the next 18 months and was accepted on 29 March 1919 as a volunteer for one years’ service with the Army of Occupation in Germany. Appointed Acting Colour Sergeant Major on 14 April 1919, Dougan finally returned home to Scotland in August 1919 and received a gold pocket watch from the inhabitants of High Knightswood in appreciation of his bravery.
His service records note he later joined the Royal Air Force numbered 344943 as a Warrant Officer Class 2 as an Armourers Crew 1st Class. He is noted as being with 205 Squadron in Dec 1930 in Singapore.
