Arthur Joseph CUMMINGS

Per his military service record (regimental no. 6125), Arthur Joseph Cummings was born at Redfern, Sydney, N.S.W.[1] He gave his age as 22 years, his marital status as single, and his occupation as labourer. His description on his Certificate of Medical Examination was 5 feet 4 inches tall, weight 122 lbs., with a dark complexion, grey eyes, and brown hair. His religious denomination was Church of England. He claimed that he had no previous military service.

He completed his medical examination at Wellington on 16^th October 1915. He was attested by Captain T. A. Nicholas at Mumbil on 19^th October 1915.

After the Coo-ee March he went into Liverpool Camp until 9^th January 1916, when his service record records him as being a deserter.

His service record shows he recommenced his military service in the A.I.F., in the 1^st Battalion at Liverpool Camp on 7^th June 1916.

On 22^nd August 1916 Private Cummings departed Sydney on the HMAT Wiltshire A18, as part of the 19^th reinforcements for the 1^st Battalion.

On his embarkation roll his address at time of enrolment was 9 Centre Street, Redfern, N.S.W., and his next of kin was listed as his father, A. [Arthur] Cummings, at the same address.[2]

He disembarked at Freemantle in Western Australia on 30^th August 1916, where he was sent to hospital sick.

He was discharged on 31^st October 1916 and sent to the Black Boy Army Camp in Western Australia.

On 21^st November 1916 he was transferred to the Rockingham Army Camp.

On 30^th December 1916 Private Cummings was charged with failing to answer roll call at 1400 and failing to report for morning treatment at hospital. He was fined 2 Shillings and Six Pence.

On 9^th February 1917 he was transferred to the Karrakatta Army Camp in Western Australia.

On 23^rd February 1917 Private Cummings was charged with overstaying his leave from 2300 on the 23^rd of February 1917 till 0700 on 23^rd February 1917. He was fined 5 shillings, and forfeited 6 days pay.

On 4^th March 1917 Private Cummings was charged with breaking away from escort whilst in detention. He was fined 5 pounds and sentenced to 128 hours detention.

On 13^th April 1917 he was charged with being absent without leave from 2300 on 1^st April 1917 till apprehended by the Military Police at 1000 on 11^th April 1917. He forfeited 10 days pay, and was sentenced to 168 hours detention.

On 4^th May 1917 Private Cummings was charged with being absent without leave from 27^th April 1917 till being apprehended in Charles Street, Perth, by the Military Police at 1100 on 4^th May 1917. He was fined 8 days pay and sentenced to 8 days detention.

On 17^th May 1917 Private Cummings was charged with overstaying his leave from midnight on 13^th   May 1917 till arrested in Perth at 2040 on 17^th May 1917, creating a disturbance on a train, violently resisting and breaking arrest, and remaining absent till arrested in Perth. He was fined 4 days pay and sentenced to 28 days detention.

On 24^th May 1917 Private Cummings was charged with being in possession of tobacco and pipe in detention barracks at Freemantle. He was sentenced to 2 days bread and water

On 19^th June 1917 Private Cummings was charged with overstaying his leave from midnight on 14^th June 1917 till 0900 on 19^th June 1917. He was fined 6 days pay and sentenced to 6 days confined to camp.

On 20^th June 1917 Private Cummings with whilst a defaulter remaining absent from1800 on 20^th June 1917 till arrested by the military Police at 1315 on 23^rd June 1917. He  forfeited 3 days pay, and was sentenced to 168 hours detention.

On 29^th June 1917 Private Cummings departed Freemantle aboard the HMAT Borda A30 bound for England, with the 8^th reinforcements 44^th Infantry Battalion.

He arrived at Plymouth, England, on 25^th August 1917.

On 26^th August 1917 Private Cummings marched into the 11^th Training Battalion at Durrington, England.

On 11^th October 1917 Private Cumming was admitted to Sutton Veny Military Hospital with diarrhoea.  He was discharged to the 1^st Training Battalion at Sutton Veny on 16^th October 1917.

On 3^rd December 1917 Private Cummings was charged with being absent without leave from midnight on 20^th November 1917 till arrested by the Civil Police in London at 1030 on 29^th November 1917. He was awarded 9 days field punishment number 2 and fined 21 days pay.

On  23^rd January 1918 Private Cummings departed Southampton, England, bound for France. He joined  the 1^st Battalion when it was in the trenches in the vicinity of Messines, Belgium, on 26^th  January 1918.

On 7^th March 1918 the 1^st Battalion was manning the front line in the vicinity of Hollebeke, Belgium, when Private Cummings was evacuated sick with bronchial catarrh.

On 2^nd April 1918 he was transferred from the 9^th Canadian Stationery Hospital to No. 1 Convalescent Camp at Boulogne.

On 11^th April 1918 Private Cummings was at the No. 1 Convalescent Depot at Boulogne, France, where he was charged with being dirty on parade and smoking on parade, on 10^th April 1918. He was fined one days pay.

On 21^st April 1918 he was discharge to the Australian Infantry Base Depot at Le Havre, France.

On 18^th May 1918 Private Cummings departed France bound for England classed B2.

He arrived at the No. 2 Command Depot at Weymouth, England, on 19^th May 1918.

On 31^st May 1918 he marched out to No. 4 Convalescent Depot at Hurdcott, England.

On 12^th July 1918 Private Cummings went to the Camp Isolation Hospital sick with Scabies.

On 23^rd July 1918 Private Cummings was charged with being absent without leave from 28^th June 1918 till being apprehended in London on 8^th July 1918.  He was also charged with resisting escort, and assault.  He was sentenced to 105 days detention.

On 24^th July 1918 Private Cummings was admitted to the detention ward of the 1^st Australian Dermatological Hospital at Bulford, England.

He was discharged on 5^th August 1918 and sent to the Detention Barracks at Lewes, England.

On 24^th October 1918 the remainder of Private Cummings sentence was remitted, and he was released from Lewes and sent to the No. 4 Command Depot.

On 7^th December 1918 Private Cummings was charged with being absent without leave from 2130 on 18^th November 1918 till 27^th November 1918. He was awarded 18 days field punishment no.  2 and fined 32 days pay.

Private Cummings departed England aboard the H.T.  Aneas on 18^th December 1918 with debility, bound for Australia.

He arrived in Australia on 11^th February 1919, and was discharged medically unfit on 11^th May 1919.

[1]  NAA: B2455, CUMMINGS A J

[2] Australia War Memorial. First World War Embarkation Rolls, Arthur Joseph Cummings, HMAT Wiltshire A18, 22^nd August 1916.