Military History

To 8th Battery 3rd Field Artillery. To Maribyrnong Victoria.
Embarked Melbourne per HMAT ‘Medic’ A7 for Egypt 26.10.1914.
Roll Rank Gunner.
Roll Unit 8th Battery 3rd Field Artillery Brigade.
Cusack disembarked at Suez with the 8th Battery 3rd Field Artillery Brigade. He joined the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force at Alexandria and embarked for Gallipoli 4.4.1915. He fought  at Steele's Post and Lone Pine with his old school mate Douglas Barrett Lennard. After his friends courageous death, he wrote a letter to Doug's father (AWM He taught us how to die). He became sick with a fever at Dardanelles and was transferred to Mudros 21.9.1915. Cusack rejoined his unit and fought at ANZAC until his evacuation to Alexandria on 22.12.1915. He was promoted to Bombardier at Tel-el-Kebir 23.2.1916 and a month later to Prov. Corporal 10.3.1916. Cusack joined the British Expeditionary Force at Alexandria and embarked for France 23.3.1916. He disembarked at Marseilles France 29.3.1916 and was promoted to Corporal 1.5.1916. Cusack was wounded in action at the Battle of Ypres with severe gunshot wound to his leg 4.11.1916. He was invalided to England per Hospital Ship ‘Panama’ 12.11.1916 and admitted to the University War Hospital. He was discharged and proceeded to the School of Instruction at Candahar Barracks, Tidworth 25.10.1916. Cusack proceeded overseas from Southampton to France 6.12.1917. He marched out to 3rd Australian Field Artillery Brigade (AFAB) at Rouelles 14.12.1917 and joined his unit in the Field. He was promoted to Sergeant 20.2.1918. Cusack was wounded in the advance of the Third Division to the east of Villers-Bretonneux, where he was gassed 31.5.1918 (wounded 2nd time). He was promoted to Bombardier Quarter Master Sergeant 18.7.1918 and listed for early return to Australia.
Embarked at Taranto per HT ‘Port Sydney’ for Australia 8.10.1918.
Returned/Disembarked Australia 25.11.1918.
Discharged 23.1.1919.
Final Rank Bombardier Quarter Master Sergeant, 3rd Field Artillery Brigade.
Medical Condition Invalided, gassed.
Awards and Medals 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Photos HMAT 'Medic' 1914. Photographer Hood, Samuel J. Photograph source AWM H19319
              Horses and Guns going ashore at Gallipoli 1915. Photograph source Darge Studio, photograph source AWM J03269
              Artillery Horses on the road between Popperhinge and Ypres.1917. Photographer unknown, photograph source E00827
              Gassed Australian soldiers awaiting treatment, Boise deL'Abbe 1918. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM E04851
              HMAT 'Port Sydney' A15. Originally Star of England. Photographer unknown, photograph AWM C0248
           

Information Source
AWM  H19319. HMAT 'Medic' 1914. Photographer Hood, Samuel J. Photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM J03269. Horses and Guns going ashore at Gallipoli 1915. Photograph source Darge Studio, photograph source d from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM E00827. Artillery Horses on the road between Popperhinge and Ypres.1917. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM E04851.Gassed Australian soldiers awaiting treatment, Boise deL'Abbe 1918. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM C0248. HMAT 'Port Sydney' A15. Originally 'Star of England'. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM Douglas Barrett Lennard. He taught us how to die.  See AWM website , https://www.awm.gov.au/blog/2014/11/03/men-mettle-douglas-barrett-lennard-and-western-australians-8th-australian-field 
Australian War Memorial: Embarkation Rolls- Thomas Donald Cusack
Guildford Grammar School Honour Roll
NAA: B2455, Cusack T D


‘Benmore’, Midland Junction, WA.

Associated Images