Douglas Teale Pincham (1915 - 1987)

Ancestors

Biography

Douglas Teale 'Pardie' Pincham was born on 15th April 1915 in Coonabarabran, New South Wales, Australia. He was the second son of Alfred Pincham and Idella Casey. ^[1]

On 3rd November 1939 at Coonamble, New South Wales, just weeks after the declaration of war, Douglas enlisted in the Second Australian Imperial Force (AIF), his nation's overseas expeditionary force for the Second World War. ^[2] He was posted to the 2/3rd Australian Infantry Battalion, 16th Infantry Brigade, 6th Division. On 10th January 1940, the battalion sailed from Sydney and disembarked in Egypt on 14th February. The 2/3rd took part in its first campaign - the advance against the Italians in eastern Libya - in January 1941. It was involved in the successful attacks at Bardia (3-5th January) and Tobruk (21-22nd January), and remained as part of the Tobruk garrison when the advance continued. One company of the 2/3rd was also employed to garrison Derna after its capture by the 19th Brigade on 30th January. The 2/3rd left Tobruk on 7th March, bound, with the rest of the 6th Division, for Greece. Arriving in Greece on 19th March, the battalion was soon deployed north to resist the anticipated German invasion. It occupied positions at Veria on 7th April, but a succession of withdrawals by the Allies in Greece meant that the battalion did not meet the enemy in battle until 18th April - at Tempe (Pinios) Gorge. There, the 2/3rd supported the 2/2nd Battalion and blocked German movement through the gorge, allowing the unhindered withdrawal of Allied forces further south. The 2/3rd itself was forced to withdraw again by nightfall. Its activities in Greece ended with evacuation by sea from Kalamata on 27th April. The bulk of the battalion returned to Palestine, via Egypt.

In June and July 1941, the 2/3rd took part in the campaign in Syria and Lebanon and fought around Damascus (20-22 June), in an unsuccessful effort to secure Jebel Mazar (24-28th June), and in the climactic battle of Damour (6-10th July). The battalion was destined to remain in Syria as part of the garrison there until January 1942, by which time Douglas had been invalided to Australia. ^[3] He was discharged as medically unfit for further military service on 18th February 1942. ^[2]

Not being satisfied with sitting back while Aussies his age were being killed and with Australia itself now under imminent threat of invasion, Doug enlisted in the Australian Army Militia (separate to the AIF with which he had previously served) on 5th August 1942, being posted to Det Barracks, Orange, New South Wales. Clearly still suffering the effects of his wounds, he was once more discharged on 30th November 1942. ^[4]

Doug married Coonamble lass Kathleen Digges, five years younger than he, in 1943 in Orange. ^[5] They had two daughters, later settling in Baradine, New South Wales. ^[6]

Aged 72 years, Doug passed away in 1987 in Baradine ^[7] and is buried in Baradine Cemetery. ^[8] He was survived by Kathleen, who passed away in 2007, their daughters, Idella (married Roy Matthews) and Gaye (married John unknown), and four grandchildren, Katrina, Jeffrey, Stuart and Mark.

Sources

1. ↑ New South Wales Birth Index #19032/1915
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Department of Veterans' Affairs nominal roll: NX5387 Lance Corporal Douglas Teale Pincham; accessed 16 Apr 2022
3. ↑ Australian War Memorial unit record: 2/3rd Australian Infantry Battalion; accessed 2 Jun 2018
4. ↑ Department of Veterans' Affairs nominal roll: N3518657 Private Douglas Teale Pincham; accessed 16 Apr 2022
5. ↑ New South Wales Marriage Index #11848/1943
6. ↑ unsubstantiated family records
7. ↑ New South Wales Death Index #6906/1987
8. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #214132512

• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/50100536/douglas-teale-pincham: accessed 26 September 2023), memorial page for Douglas Teale Pincham (15 Apr 1915–1 Mar 1987), Find a Grave Memorial ID 50100536, citing Baradine General Cemetery, Baradine, Warrumbungle Shire, New South Wales, Australia; Maintained by Wooday2 (contributor 49066939).