Colin Douglas DOIG

Colin served with 25th Light Horse Machine Gun Regt, 1938-1941 with Service No W1314 and he was commissioned, Lieutenant, on 23 Oct 1940. He transferred to the A.I.F. on 7 Apr 1941 and was an original member of the unit, embarking aboard “S.S. ZEALANDIA” on 8 Dec 1941 for Timor as a Lieutenant, Officer Commanding, No 5 Sect, “B” Platoon. Colin commanded "D" Platoon which consisted of the men who escaped from the Koepang end and were trained up to be commandos plus the original Engineers Section. 

In Jul 1942 he was part of “H” Force which comprised 2 Officers and 10 men to source food and patrol the east end of the island for Japanese infiltration. Aug 1942 he took command of "H" Force and in Oct 1942, George Boyland took over command of “H” Force from him.

After the campaign on Timor, he embarked with the unit, for Australia aboard the Royal Dutch destroyer “Tjerk Hiddes” on 11 Dec 1942. 

After leave and reorganization he embarked with the unit as a Lieutenant, Officer Commanding, No 5 Sect, “B” Troop, for New Guinea aboard S.S. “DUNTROON” on 17 Jun 1943 and returned to Australia with them aboard “TAROONA” on 3 Sept 1944.

Colin was promoted to Captain on 7 Mar 1945 and after leave and further reorganization, he embarked for New Britain aboard “TAROONA” on 9 Apr 1945 with the unit as a Captain, Officer Commanding, “A” Troop.

He returned to Australia aboard "MANUNDA" on 19 Dec 1945 and was discharged on 26 Apr 1946.

Colin was the first Life Member of the Association in 1950 and was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 1988.

He was entitled to the 1939-45 Star, Pacific Star, War Medal and Australian Service Medal 1939-45, pictured below. He is now also entitled to the Australian Service Medal 1945-75 with a clasp