36 Facts About Ivan Dougherty

Ivan Noel Dougherty was born on 6 April 1907 in Leadville, New South Wales, a small town between Dunedoo and Coolah, New South Wales, the son of Isabella Dougherty and a father he never knew.

Ivan Dougherty was educated at Mudgee High School and Sydney Teachers College.

Ivan Dougherty transferred to Tingha Public School in 1931 and then to Armidale West Public School.

In 1926, while still at Sydney Teachers' College, Dougherty joined the Sydney University Regiment, in which he was commissioned as a lieutenant on 27 July 1927.

Ivan Dougherty was promoted to captain on 11 September 1931 but was moved to the unattached list in 1932 following his posting to Tingha.

Ivan Dougherty 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.

Ivan Dougherty returned to Leadville at least once a year to visit his mother.

Ivan Dougherty was however allowed to retain his substantive rank of lieutenant colonel as an honorary rank, and therefore wear his lieutenant colonel's rank badges.

Ivan Dougherty embarked from Sydney on 10 January 1940 on the SS Otranto.

Ivan 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 Ivan Dougherty soon made a good impression and when Robertson went on leave in October 1940 he recommended that Ivan Dougherty act as brigade commander, despite the fact that he was the youngest and most junior of Robertson's battalion commanders.

Ivan Dougherty encountered some resentment from regular officers like Lieutenant Colonel Henry Wells.

Ivan 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.

Ivan Dougherty was ordered to seize Wadi Derna, a ravine 500 metres wide.

Ivan Dougherty now moved to join the attack on Derna, unaware that O'Connor had called it off.

Ivan Dougherty had trucks drive to and fro to give the impression that the position was being reinforced.

Ivan 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.

Ivan Dougherty arrived back in Palestine after the campaign in Greece to find no mail awaiting him.

Ivan Dougherty's 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.

Ivan 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.

Ivan Dougherty suffered an attack of malaria and arranged to be admitted to hospital in Goulburn, New South Wales in order to be near his family.

Ivan Dougherty rebuilt his brigade, ruthlessly weeding out officers who did not meet his standards, including two of his battalion commanders.

Ivan Dougherty then carried out a rapid advance into the Ramu Valley culminating in the capture of Dumpu.

Ivan Dougherty then moved into the Finisterre Range, establishing a toehold on Shaggy Ridge.

Ivan Dougherty rejoined his brigade in early 1944, but only in time for its relief and return to Australia.

General Douglas MacArthur paid Ivan Dougherty a visit on the beachhead while it was still under fire.

Ivan Dougherty accepted surrender of the outlying Japanese forces, handled the processing of Japanese POWs and the release of Allied POWs and internees, organised the distribution of food and medical supplies to the civilian population and maintained civil order.

In recognition of "gallant and distinguished services in the South West Pacific", Ivan Dougherty was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1947.

Ivan Dougherty returned to teaching, accepting a post as headmaster of Enmore Activity School in 1946.

Ivan Dougherty 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.

Ivan Dougherty was knighted on 7 June 1968 for "services to ex-servicemen and the community".

Ivan Dougherty assumed command of the 8th Infantry Brigade in 1948.

Ivan Dougherty was promoted to major general in 1952 on taking command of the 2nd Division.

Ivan Dougherty again clashed with Sir Henry Wells, now Chief of the General Staff.

Ivan Dougherty felt that he should be Chairman of the Military Board when Wells was absent, being the next most senior member.

Ivan Dougherty was a fellow of the Senate of the University of Sydney from 1954 to 1974, and served as Deputy Chancellor from 1958 to 1966.