Military History

Embarked Fremantle per HMAT ‘Argyllshire’ A8 for England 9.11.1916.
Roll Rank A/Lance Corporal. (appointed 1.11.1916.)
Roll Unit 5th Reinforcement. 43rd Battalion.
Cumming disembarked at Devonport with the 43rd Battalion 5th Reinforcement. He marched in to the 11th Training Battalion and reverted to rank 5.2.1917. He was appointed A/Lance Corporal 24.3.1917. He attended Musketry School at Tidworth 25.3.1917 then reverted to rank 18.7.1917. Cumming attended an Instructors Course at Lyndhurst 5.11.1917 then was transferred to Mandeville Bombing School 5.11.1917. Cummings proceeded overseas to France 20.11.1917 with 3rd Aust. Division. The 43rd Battalion fought at Villers-Bretonneux in July 1917. Cumming was wounded in action in the field with a gunshot wound to his left ankle and foot 2.4 1918. There was an enquiry into whether his injury was self inflicted, and it was determined that there was not insufficient evidence for a self inflicted trial. The injury was reported in newspapers (West Australian Newspaper 6.5.1918). Cumming was transferred to the 3rd Casualty Field Station then transferred to England by Hospital Ship and admitted to the General Hospital at Colchester. He was listed for early return to Australia as an invalid.
Embarked UK per H.T. ‘Karoola’ D15, 3.8.1918 for Australia.
Returned/Disembarked Fremantle 28.8.1918.
Discharged 7.3.1919.
Final Rank Private 43rd Battalion. Australian Imperial Force.
Medical Condition Invalided gunshot wound to left ankle and foot.
Awards and Medals British War Medal, Victory Medal
Photos  HMAT 'Argyllshire' 1914-15. Postcard by Geyer Studio NSW, photograph source AWM P10581.002.
              Villers-Bretonneux, ruined church 1918. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM E02157
              Australian Troops in trenches near Villers-Bretonneux May 1918. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM E04828
              Hospital Ship  'Karoola'. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM P03968.001

Information Source
AWM P10581.002. HMAT 'Argyllshire' 1914-15. Postcard by Geyer Studio NSW, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM E02157. Villers-Bretonneux, ruined church 1918. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM E04828. Australian Troops in trenches near Villers-Bretonneux May 1918. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM P03968.001. Hospital Ship  'Karoola'. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
Australian War Memorial Embarkation Roll- Hugh Gilmore Cummings
Guildford War Memorial
NAA: B2455, Cumming H G
St Matthew’s Honour Roll
Western Mail
West Australian Newspaper
Wise, H. and Co. Western Australian Post Office Directories. SLWA

GTL 133 Lots 9,10) GMC Rates Books 1917-18
15 Waylen Street, Guildford, WA.

Associated Images