Doak, Joseph Denver (Irvine)

Second Lieutenant Joseph Denver Doak (Irvine) – 4^th Battalion AIF

Joseph Denver Doak was born in Auckland New Zealand to Margaret Irvine in 1886. He was educated in New Zealand and later worked on the New Zealand Railways. He immigrated to Australia and took up residence in Kalgoorlie WA where he worked both as an Engine Driver and Gas Fitter. During his time in Kalgoorlie he served in the Goldfields Infantry Regiment for 18 months.

In 1910 he was an Engine Driver and was based at Gwalia. He later moved to Fremantle where he met and married Agnes Henning with whom he had a daughter Dorothea in 1914. They resided at Mandurah Road South Fremantle.

Joseph enlisted into the AIF on the 25^th February 1915 and was passed as fit. The medical examiner found him to be 5 feet 8 inches tall; weight of 140 lbs; chest measurement of 34-36 inches; dark complexion; grey eyes and dark brown hair. His religious denomination was Methodist. Joseph was assigned to No.9 Depot and on the 16^th March promoted to Corporal and Sergeant in one day and then sent to No.11 Depot. On the 16^th April he was attached to the 28^th Battalion but on the 29^th May was transferred to the 8^th Reinforcements to the 11^th Battalion. On the 16^th July 1915 he was sent to Officers School where he stayed till the 4^th August 1915. On the 6^th August Joseph was sent to No.20 Depot and was soon made Lieutenant for Home Service. On the 16^th August he went to D Company of No.1 Battalion and on the 16^th September D Company of No.3 Battalion. On the 1^st October 1915 he was sent to No.32 Depot where he remained till the 15^th October.

Joseph had applied for a Commission in the Australian Imperial Force in August and the District Commandant recommended that he be posted to the Depot Companies and his appointment seems to have been terminated on the 14^th October though no reason can be found for the termination.

Joseph next appears in NSW on the 2^nd February 1916 where he again applied for a commission in the AIF. This seems to have been approved as on the 16^th March 1916 Joseph found himself appointed as a 2^nd Lieutenant. After more officers training he was appointed to the 21^st Reinforcements to the 4^th Battalion AIF which left Sydney on the H.M.A.T. “Aeneas” on the 30^th September 1916. After the long voyage to England the ship berthed in Plymouth Harbour on the 19^th November 1916 and Joseph and the men were marched into the 1^st Training Battalion at Durrington.

He was to spend the next few months at Durrington Camp. On the 30^th May 1917 he was sent to Fargo Military Hospital with tonsillitis though had returned to Durrington by the following week. On the 12^th June he completed his Officer’s and N.C.O.’s course at the 1^st Training Battalion and qualified as “Good”.

On the 12^th July 1917 Joseph left England for France and after landing at Le Havre was sent to the 1^st Australian Division Base Depot. He spent a week here and then marched out to join his unit. After a few days journey he was taken on strength of the 4^th Battalion on the 21^st July 1917.

The first division was then out of the line resting after their previous 12 months, but in early September they began to move towards Ypres where they would take part in the Third Battle of Ypres which had been going on since July 31^st 1917. Joseph got into trouble as he faced a Court Martial on the 10^th September for striking one soldier and shaking another by the shoulders. He was found guilty on the first charge and not guilty on the 2^nd and as a punishment was to be severely reprimanded and his date and rank of precedence for promotion would be dated the trial’s date rather than when he was actually commissioned; so he would have to wait longer for promotion.

Joseph served through the Battle of Menin Road on the 20^th September 1917 though his luck vanished on the 4^th October 1917 during the Battle of Broodseinde Ridge when he was killed in action. He was buried on Broodseinde Ridge and after the war was moved to Tyne Cot Cemetery where he lays in plot XL.D.1.

Joseph’s brother Christopher Doak served in the South African Veterinary Corps and died on the 16^th April 1916. Until recently Christopher Doak was not commemorated on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission database but fortunately this oversight has now been rectified.

Joseph’s wife, Agnes would receive a pension of 70/- per fortnight.