Dugan, Lewis

No.1875 – Private Lewis Dugan – 11^th Battalion AIF

Lewis Dugan was born in Fremantle WA in 1896 to Thomas Dugan and Annie Wilson. The family lived in William Street Fremantle but unfortunately his parents separated not long after and while Thomas continued to reside in Fremantle, Lewis went to Coolgardie with his mother. She later remarried to a Young Bedford who became Lewis’s stepfather. Lewis attended Bulong School in the Goldfields and after leaving learnt to become a butcher and was also involved in the Sandalwood Industry. Lewis also served in the 84^th Goldfields Citizen Force. At the beginning of the war members of the 84^th Goldfields Regiment were called upon to do coastal duty at Cottesloe to Fremantle, specifically at the Cable Landing in Cottesloe. In January 1915 Lewis returned to Coolgardie to ask his mother for permission to enlist. She refused so Lewis returned to Perth and enlisted anyway.

On the 15^th January 1915 Lewis went to the Perth Drill Hall and enlisted into the AIF. He was passed as fit with the medical examiner finding that he was 5 feet 4 ½ inches tall; weight of 121 lbs; chest measurement of 34-36 inches; fresh complexion; blue eyes and brown hair. His religious denomination was Roman Catholic. After a period in No.8 Depot Company, Lewis was attached to the 4^th Reinforcements to the 11^th Battalion. This group embarked from Fremantle on the 19^th April 1915 aboard the H.M.A.T. “Argyllshire”.

After arriving in Egypt in May, the men were disembarked and sent to the training camp though their time here was short as at the beginning of June they boarded a transport ship in Alexandria and sailed for Gallipoli. On the 16^th June 1915 Lewis was taken on strength of the 11^th Battalion and sent to “A” Company. Lewis served in the actions at Tasmania Post and Leane’s Trench through June, July and August though at the end of August he was evacuated sick to the 1^st Field Ambulance where he was diagnosed with diarrhoea. Lewis’s condition was serious enough to be evacuated back to Hospital at Mudros where it was found he was also suffering from Rheumatism. On the 16^th September 1915 Lewis was admitted to a Military Hospital in Fulham. Lewis remained here for several months and it wasn’t until February 1916 that he was well enough to be sent back to the 11^th Battalion.

As Gallipoli had been evacuated, Lewis rejoined them in Egypt on the 10^th March 1916. Just under three weeks later he boarded another transport ship which took the 11^th Battalion to France, arriving at Marseilles on the 5^th April 1916. The 11^th were sent north to Armentieres, where they held trench lines near Fleurbaix. Lewis survived the next few months of front line duty and in June they were relieved in the line and began to make their way south to the Somme battlefield. The Somme battle had been raging since July 1^st though the Australians first operation here was on July 23^rd. The 1^st Division was tasked with the capture of Pozieres village. The assault was successful though casualties were very high. Lewis was listed as missing after the attack. A Lieutenant Bickford later stated that;

“This man was wounded by a high explosive shell on the night of the big attack at Contalmaison, Pozieres front July 23^rd 1916. An advance was made, which enemy met with a heavy barrage and machine gun fire. Captain Mason of the 11^th Battalion and myself were leading “A” Company when a shell burst amongst us, killing some and wounding others. Dugan was of our party and was wounded severely. While stretcher bearers were attending to wounded a high explosive landed near them and completely buried or scattered the wounded, dying and dead. Dugan’s body was not afterwards discovered.”

Lewis Dugan’s body was not discovered and he is therefore commemorated on the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial.