Lives of the First World War

December 1916 - 4th June 1917

Suffering from Empysema from December 1915, Douglas spent much of 1916 in various hospitals, being discharged from the Army on medical grounds at the end of June 1916. In December 1916 he had an operation, requiring part of a rib to be removed to drain puss. The operation wound was very slow to heal, and Douglas then developed Broncho Pneumonia. Eventually the wound healed and his health began to improve, and he went to the British Red Cross Auxiliary Military Hospital in Colwyn Bay to convalesce. By the end of April 1917, he was advised that he needed treatment for a further month. His Army records contain a description by the hospital's Medical Officer of what happened on the day Douglas died. "I last saw him alive on Monday June 4th at 10 a.m. when he came before me for medical exam. His health much improved. I did not give him permission to bathe. Immediately after med. exam. he went to bathe, and swam some way out to sea alone. He evidently got exhausted and sank 60 yds from shore when returning. His strength greatly reduced by his illness and his heart was dilated and flabby."

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