Douglas, Mary Stewart (May)

Entry type: Person
Entry ID: AWE0413

OBE, OAM
Preferred name Douglas, May

(1904 – 1999)

Born 20 January 1904, Victor Harbour, South Australia, Australia
Died 6 May 1999
Occupation Servicewoman

Summary

On 1 June 1953 May Douglas was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, in recognition for her service as Commissioner of Girl Guides in South Australia. She was also awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia on 26 January 1997 for service to veterans, particularly through the Women’s Royal Australian Army Corps Association, and the Australia Remembers 1945-1995 Celebrations.

Events

1958
Life member of the South Australian Council of Girl Guides
1952 - 1958
State Commissioner of the South Australian Girl Guides
2061 - 2066
Honorary Colonel of the Women’s Royal Australian Army Corps
1923 - 1941
Captain and Commissioner of the Girl Guides Association
1941 - 1943
Assistant Controller of the Australian Women’s Army Service
1943 - 1946
Controller of the Australian Army Medical Womens’ Service
1946 - 1948
District Commissioner of the Girl Guides
1949 - 1952
Deputy South Australian Commissioner of the Girl Guides
1997
Awarded Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM)
2053
Appointed an Officer of the British Empire (OBE)

Archival resources

National Archives of Australia, National Office, Canberra
- DOUGLAS MARY STEWART : Service Number - SFX30364 : Date of birth - 20 Jan 1904 : Place of birth - VICTOR HARBOUR SA : Place of enlistment - WAYVILLE SA : Next of Kin - DOUGLAS F
National Library of Australia
- [Biographical cuttings on Mary Stewart Douglas, O.B.E., containing one or more cuttings from newspapers or journals]
Australian War Memorial, Research Centre
- Major Mary Douglas (seated) formerly of the Australian Women's Army Service (AWAS)
- End of War Awards - submissions by [Quartermaster-General and Director-General of Medical Services]
- A pre-dinner chat for Women's Royal Australian Army Corps (WRAAC) officers
- Officers at the Conference of Assistant and Deputy Assistant Controllers, Australian Army Medical Women's Service.
- Officers at the conference of Assistant and Deputy Assistant Controllers, Australian Army Medical Women's Service
- Lieutenant-Colonel May Douglas
- Members of the Girl Guides Association (South Australia) working in the depot during their thrift campaign to raise funds for organisations such as the Red Cross

Digital resources

Published resources

Resource Section
- DOUGLAS, MARY STEWART, Department of Veterans' Affairs, 2002, http://www.ww2roll.gov.au/script/veteran.asp?ServiceID=A&VeteranID=693236
Book
- Soldiers of the Queen : women in the Australian Army, Bomford, Janette, 2001
- Notable lives : profiles of 21 South Australians, Cockburn, Stewart, 1997
- Colonel Best and her soldiers: The Story of the 33 years of the Women's Royal Australian Army Corps, Ollif, Lorna, 1985
- From blue to khaki: The enlisted voluntary aids and others who became members of the Australian Army Medical Women's Service and served from 19421-1951, Mount-Batten, Betty J, 1995
- A Stroll down memory lane, WRAAC Association, 2001
Edited Book
- Who's Who in Australia 1962, Alexander, Joseph A, 1962
Book Section
- Women in wartime - May Douglas, who played a prominent part in the Australian Women's Army Service raised in August, 1941, contributes some of her memories, Douglas, May
Resource
- Trove: Douglas, Mary Stewart (1904-1999), http://nla.gov.au/nla.party-773058

Related entries

Related Organisations
- Women's Royal Australian Army Corps (WRAAC) (1951 - 1985)
- Australian Army Medical Women's Service (AAMWS) (1942 - 1951)
- Australian Women's Army Service (AWAS) (1941 - 1947)
Related Cultural Artefacts
- The Sybil Irving Memorial, Victoria
Chaired by
- The Sybil Irving Memorial Fund Committee
Commissioner
- Girl Guides Australia (1926 - )