Their bodies are buried in peace; but their names liveth for evermore.

Their Duty Done

A tribute to the men and women of the East Gippsland Region who Died as a result of their participation in World War One : 1914 -1919

Orbost born Douglas Price was one of ten children, five boys and five girls, in David and Mary Price’s family. He went to school at Orbost and grew up working on the family farm at Newmeralla. When his brothers Albert and Arthur enlisted Douglas also decided to enlist. He signed up when he was 22 years old on 13 August 1916 and sailed from Australia on the Shropshire the following month, arriving at Plymouth in November. On New Year’s Eve he marched in with the 59 th  Battalion and joined his unit on 6 February 1917. From 20 June 1917 to 4 July Douglas was at the 5 th  Army Stokes Mortar school training before returning to the 59 th  Battalion. On 4 October it was reported that he had been wounded on the 26 September and that he was now missing in action. The Snowy River Mail reported that Misfortune has overtaken three sons of Mr David Price, of Newmeralla. On Monday 29 th  ult., word was received that one of the boys, Private Albert T. Price, had been wounded, but had returned to duty. On the following day (Tuesday) official intimation came through that Pte Douglas T. Price had been reported wounded and missing, while on Thursday last a message was received stating that the third son Private Arthur R. Price had been severely wounded in action. Enquiries by the Red Cross confirmed that he had died when a court of enquiry held in the field on 28 March 1918 revealed that he was found dead in the trench and that he was buried where he was found. There was no burial service as we had no Chaplain there at Polygon Wood. No one saw him killed or wounded and there was no marks on him. He was very popular in the Battalion, being good-natured and good-tempered and brave. Douglas’ body was recovered and the 23-year-old was buried in Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood, Zonnebeke in Belgium. He is also remembered on the Newmeralla Honour roll and the Orbost Shire roll.  Douglas’ brothers, Albert and Arthur, and his brother-in-law George Mitton all returned safely to Australia.