Ivan Dougherty

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Sir Ivan Noel Dougherty
Second World War
Awards
Mentioned in Despatches (3)
Other workDirector of the New South Wales State Emergency Service
Deputy Chancellor of the University of Sydney

Second World War and early Cold War
period.

Education and early life

Ivan Noel Dougherty was born on 6 April 1907 in

Armidale West Public School.[3]

In 1926, while still at Sydney Teachers' College, Dougherty joined the

captain on 11 September 1931 but was moved to the unattached list in 1932 following his posting to Tingha. His posting to Armidale allowed him to resume his part-time military career, and he joined the 33rd/41st Infantry Battalion on 20 December 1934, and then the 33rd Infantry Battalion when it resumed its separate existence on 1 October 1936. He was promoted to major on 14 February 1938, assumed command of the 33rd Infantry Battalion on 1 December 1938, and was promoted lieutenant colonel on 28 August 1939.[4]

Dougherty returned to Leadville at least once a year to visit his mother. On a visit in 1935, he met Phyllis Lofts, a fellow school teacher who taught at

Goulburn High School.[6]
They would eventually have five children: Margaret and Graeme, born before the war, and, later, Maureen, David and Noela.

Second World War

On the outbreak of the

2/2nd Infantry Battalion, as his second-on-command even though this involved a reduction in rank to major.[7] This was accepted and Dougherty joined the Second Australian Imperial Force on 13 October 1939, receiving the AIF serial number of NX148. He was however allowed to retain his substantive rank of lieutenant colonel as an honorary rank, and therefore wear his lieutenant colonel's rank badges.[4] Dougherty embarked from Sydney on 10 January 1940 on the SS Otranto. The ship sailed through the Suez Canal and the battalion moved by rail to an encampment at Julis, a town in the British Mandate of Palestine about 26 km north east of Gaza.[8]

On 19 August 1940 Dougherty was appointed to command the

2/4th Infantry Battalion, with the substantive AIF rank of lieutenant colonel.[4] This was still a New South Wales battalion of the 6th Division but part of the newly formed 19th Infantry Brigade. Dougherty received a cool reception from his new commander, Brigadier Horace Robertson, who was disappointed at being unable to select his own battalion commanders. However Dougherty soon made a good impression and when Robertson went on leave in October 1940 he recommended that Dougherty act as brigade commander, despite the fact that he was the youngest and most junior of Robertson's battalion commanders.[9] Dougherty also encountered some resentment from regular officers like Lieutenant Colonel Henry Wells. Although he had been commissioned seven years before Dougherty, Wells was now his junior owing to the slower rate of promotion in the regular Army.[10]

Libya

The 19th Infantry Brigade moved to Borg El Arab in November 1940 to participate in General Sir Archibald Wavell's Operation Compass. The 2/4th Infantry Battalion moved into positions around Tobruk, from which it participated in the assault on the Tobruk fortress. In the featureless desert, Dougherty was confronted with some difficulty in locating the start line for the advance, and made a series of adjustments to the battalion position. Later he felt compelled to explain his actions to his troops, explaining that he did not wish them to take any casualties due to carelessness on his part. Commanding from a Bren Gun Carrier, which he used to tool about the battlefield, Dougherty made good progress, capturing the Italian commander, Generale di Corpo d'Armata Petassi Manella.[11] Once on his objective, Robertson had ordered Dougherty to capture Fort Airente, if feasible, thereby cutting the road to Derna, but left the final decision to Dougherty. Dougherty elected not to as he could not call for artillery since his radio was out of action, and he had to guard 1,600 Italian prisoners.[12] Fort Airente was captured when the advance resumed in the morning, and Tobruk surrendered to Robertson.[13]

At Derna, Robertson employed his brigade boldly in support of

mentioned in despatches[16] and awarded the Distinguished Service Order.[17]

Greece, Crete and Syria

The 2/4th Infantry Battalion landed at Piraeus on 3 April 1940 and moved into the line in the Kleidi area where the 19th Infantry Brigade (now under Brigadier George Alan Vasey) attempted to make a stand against the advancing German Army. Dougherty was given some six km of front to defend – a nearly impossible task. At the Battle of Vevi, the battalion was forced to withdraw after the units on both its flanks were forced back. The 19th Infantry Brigade next attempted to hold Thermopylae. A successful rearguard action covered the general withdrawal from Greece. The 19th Infantry Brigade made its way to Megara where the 2/4th Infantry Battalion was evacuated by HMS Hasty.[18]

The 2/4th Infantry Battalion arrived on Crete where it was detached from the 19th Infantry Brigade and sent to help British and Greek units defend Heraklion.[19] Dougherty managed to hold his positions against the German airborne assault, destroying a considerable part of the German force and capturing a considerable quantity of weapons and supplies.[20] The Germans gradually tightened their grip on the area, however, and it was decided to evacuate the troops at Heraklion from Crete. Dougherty waited until all his men were embarked on British warships before himself departing on HMS Kimberley.[21] HMS Orion and HMS Dido were attacked by large numbers of Stukas and 48 of Dougherty's men were killed.[22] For his services in Greece and Crete, Dougherty was mentioned in despatches a second time.[23]

Dougherty arrived back in Palestine after the campaign in Greece to find no mail awaiting him. His mail had been stopped on the order of Major General

Iven Mackay who wanted to personally break the sad news to Dougherty that his daughter Margaret had been killed in a playground accident in Mosman, New South Wales.[24] After its battering in Greece, the 2/4th Infantry Battalion rested and re-trained in Palestine before moving to Syria in October 1941.[25] In January 1942 it embarked for Australia.[26]

New Guinea

On arrival in Adelaide Dougherty was informed that he was being promoted to brigadier and given command of the 23rd Infantry Brigade, a part of Major General Edmund Herring's Northern Territory Force.[27] Dougherty was unimpressed with the standard of morale and training of his new command and within weeks he relieved all three of his battalion commanders.[28]

Dougherty boards an aircraft to undertake a tactical reconnaissance.

In October 1942, Herring summoned Dougherty to

Goulburn, New South Wales in order to be near his family.[31] For this campaign, Dougherty was awarded a bar to his Distinguished Service Order.[32]

Officers of the 21st Infantry Brigade. Left to right: Brigadier I. N. Dougherty NX148, Commanding Officer (CO) 21st Infantry Brigade; Lieutenant Colonel F. H. Sublet WX1598 CO, 2/16th Infantry Battalion; Major L. E. Walcott NX34843, Brigade Major; Lieutenant-Colonel P. E. Rhoden 3129001, CO 2/14th Infantry Battalion; Lieutenant Colonel A. C. Sharp CO, 2/6th Field Ambulance; and Lieutenant Colonel K. S. Picken VX48 CO, 2/27th Infantry Battalion.

The 21st Infantry Brigade gradually reassembled at Ravenshoe, Queensland as its personnel returned from leave and hospital. Dougherty rebuilt his brigade, once again ruthlessly weeding out officers who did not meet his standards, including two of his battalion commanders.[33]

In July 1943 the 21st Infantry Brigade began moving north once more. Following the

Finisterre Range, establishing a toehold on Shaggy Ridge. By utilising speed and surprise to keep the enemy off balance, Dougherty had managed to accomplish the 7th Division
's mission.

A broken ankle caused Dougherty to be hospitalised at the 2/5th General Hospital in Port Moresby. He rejoined his brigade in early 1944, but only in time for its relief and return to Australia.[34] For this campaign, Dougherty earned a third mention in despatches.[35]

Borneo

Once again the 21st Infantry Brigade assembled at Ravenshoe after taking leave. As

Cairns, Queensland over the following months. When the 7th Division sailed north again, it was to Morotai.[36]

Dougherty's final battle of the war was at Balikpapan, where the 21st Infantry Brigade landed on 1 July 1945. The Japanese were totally outnumbered and outgunned, but like the other battles of the Pacific War, many of them fought to the death. Despite this, the 7th Division's casualties were significantly lighter than they had suffered in previous campaigns, mainly due to the employment of staggering amounts of firepower. General Douglas MacArthur paid Dougherty a visit on the beachhead while it was still under fire.[37]

Following the

Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1947.[39]

Later life

Returning to civilian life, Dougherty contested the seat of East Sydney as a Liberal candidate in the 1946 election. The seat was a blue ribbon Labor seat held by Eddie Ward, and Dougherty lost.[40]

Dougherty returned to teaching, accepting a post as headmaster of Enmore Activity School in 1946. In 1948, he became Inspector of Schools in the Bega District.[41] He left the New South Wales Education Department in 1955 to become the first Director of the New South Wales Defence Organisation and State Emergency Services, a position he held until retirement in 1972.[42] He was knighted on 7 June 1968 for "services to ex-servicemen and the community".[43]

Dougherty remained in the Army as a reservist. He assumed command of the 8th Infantry Brigade in 1948. He was promoted to

major general in 1952 on taking command of the 2nd Division. In 1954, he became the CMF member of the Military Board, which he held until his retirement from the Army in 1957.[44] Dougherty again clashed with Sir Henry Wells, now Chief of the General Staff. Dougherty felt that he should be Chairman of the Military Board when Wells was absent, being the next most senior member. Wells denounced "the impertinence of a part-time soldier wanting to be the chairman of a board of regular soldiers!" Dougherty replied, "No we are all the same, we are all soldiers."[45] In 1960, the Minister for the Army, John Cramer, attempted to appoint Dougherty as Chief of the General Staff in succession to Lieutenant General Sir Ragnar Garrett. The proposal got as far as cabinet, where it was defeated.[46]

Dougherty was a fellow of the Senate of the

Doctor of Laws in 1976.[48]
The Ivan Dougherty Gallery at the College of Fine Arts, at the University of New South Wales was also named in his honour. As a result, his name is today widely associated with fine art.

After a long illness, Dougherty died on 4 March 1998, survived by Lady Phyllis and his four remaining children. More than 500 people, including an estimated 200 men who had served under him in the Second World War, gathered at

St. Andrew's Cathedral, Sydney to pay tribute to him. He was cremated at Sutherland Cemetery.[49]

Notes

  1. ^ Fearnside & Clift 1979, p. 5
  2. ^ Fearnside & Clift 1979, pp. 10–12
  3. ^ Fearnside & Clift 1979, p. 13
  4. ^ a b c AMF Army List of Officers, October 1950
  5. ^ Fearnside & Clift 1979, pp. 14–15
  6. ^ Fearnside & Clift 1979, p. 101
  7. ^ Fearnside & Clift 1979, pp. 1–2
  8. ^ Fearnside & Clift 1979, p. 17
  9. ^ Grey 1992, p. 79
  10. ^ Fearnside & Clift 1979, pp. 31–32
  11. ^ Fearnside & Clift 1979, pp. 32–33
  12. ^ Long 1952, p. 231
  13. ^ Long 1952, p. 236
  14. ^ Long 1952, pp. 246–250
  15. ^ Long 1952, pp. 270–272
  16. ^ "No. 35209". The London Gazette (Supplement). 8 July 1941. p. 3890.
  17. ^ "No. 35209". The London Gazette (Supplement). 8 July 1941. p. 3884.
  18. ^ Long 1953, pp. 163–164
  19. ^ Long 1953, p. 279
  20. ^ Long 1953, pp. 281–284
  21. ^ Fearnside & Clift 1979, pp. 82–83
  22. ^ Long 1953, pp. 290–294
  23. ^ "No. 35396". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 December 1941. p. 7357.
  24. ^ Fearnside & Clift 1979, pp. 88–89
  25. ^ Fearnside & Clift 1979, p. 91
  26. ^ Fearnside & Clift 1979, pp. 95–96
  27. ^ Fearnside & Clift 1979, pp. 100–101
  28. ^ Fearnside & Clift 1979, p. 102
  29. ^ McCarthy 1959, p. 422
  30. ^ McCarthy 1959, pp. 424–448
  31. ^ Fearnside & Clift 1979, p. 133
  32. ^ "No. 36297". The London Gazette (Supplement). 23 December 1943. p. 5574.
  33. ^ Fearnside & Clift 1979, p. 136
  34. ^ Fearnside & Clift 1979, pp. 152–154
  35. ^ "No. 36486". The London Gazette (Supplement). 27 April 1944. p. 1929.
  36. ^ Fearnside & Clift 1979, pp. 162–164
  37. ^ Fearnside & Clift 1979, pp. 174–176
  38. ^ Fearnside & Clift 1979, pp. 182–185
  39. ^ "No. 37898". The London Gazette (Supplement). 6 March 1947. p. 1085.
  40. ^ Fearnside & Clift 1979, pp. 190–192
  41. ^ Fearnside & Clift 1979, pp. 192–193
  42. ^ Fearnside & Clift 1979, pp. 196–200
  43. ^ "No. 44601". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 May 1968. p. 6333.
  44. ^ Fearnside & Clift 1979, p. 209
  45. ^ McCarthy 2003, p. 218
  46. ^ McCarthy 2003, pp. 68–70
  47. ^ Deputy Chancellors – University of Sydney
  48. ^ Fearnside & Clift 1979, p. 206
  49. ^ Passey 1998, p. 17

References

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