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 16th October 1915. He was attested by Captain T. A. Nicholas at Mumbil on 19th October 1915.
After the Coo-ee March he went into Liverpool Camp until 9th 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 1st Battalion at Liverpool Camp on 7th June 1916.
On 22nd August 1916 Private Cummings departed Sydney on the HMAT Wiltshire A18, as part of the 19th reinforcements for the 1st 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 30th August 1916, where he was sent to hospital sick.
He was discharged on 31st October 1916 and sent to the Black Boy Army Camp in Western Australia.
On 21st November 1916 he was transferred to the Rockingham Army Camp.
On 30th 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 9th February 1917 he was transferred to the Karrakatta Army Camp in Western Australia.
On 23rd February 1917 Private Cummings was charged with overstaying his leave from 2300 on the 23rd of February 1917 till 0700 on 23rd February 1917. He was fined 5 shillings, and forfeited 6 days pay.
On 4th 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 13th April 1917 he was charged with being absent without leave from 2300 on 1st April 1917 till apprehended by the Military Police at 1000 on 11th April 1917. He forfeited 10 days pay, and was sentenced to 168 hours detention.
On 4th May 1917 Private Cummings was charged with being absent without leave from 27th April 1917 till being apprehended in Charles Street, Perth, by the Military Police at 1100 on 4th May 1917. He was fined 8 days pay and sentenced to 8 days detention.
On 17th May 1917 Private Cummings was charged with overstaying his leave from midnight on 13th May 1917 till arrested in Perth at 2040 on 17th 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 24th 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 19th June 1917 Private Cummings was charged with overstaying his leave from midnight on 14th June 1917 till 0900 on 19th June 1917. He was fined 6 days pay and sentenced to 6 days confined to camp.
On 20th June 1917 Private Cummings with whilst a defaulter remaining absent from1800 on 20th June 1917 till arrested by the military Police at 1315 on 23rd June 1917. He forfeited 3 days pay, and was sentenced to 168 hours detention.
On 29th June 1917 Private Cummings departed Freemantle aboard the HMAT Borda A30 bound for England, with the 8th reinforcements 44th Infantry Battalion.
He arrived at Plymouth, England, on 25th August 1917.
On 26th August 1917 Private Cummings marched into the 11th Training Battalion at Durrington, England.
On 11th October 1917 Private Cumming was admitted to Sutton Veny Military Hospital with diarrhoea. He was discharged to the 1st Training Battalion at Sutton Veny on 16th October 1917.
On 3rd December 1917 Private Cummings was charged with being absent without leave from midnight on 20th November 1917 till arrested by the Civil Police in London at 1030 on 29th November 1917. He was awarded 9 days field punishment number 2 and fined 21 days pay.
On 23rd January 1918 Private Cummings departed Southampton, England, bound for France. He joined the 1st Battalion when it was in the trenches in the vicinity of Messines, Belgium, on 26th January 1918.
On 7th March 1918 the 1st Battalion was manning the front line in the vicinity of Hollebeke, Belgium, when Private Cummings was evacuated sick with bronchial catarrh.
On 2nd April 1918 he was transferred from the 9th Canadian Stationery Hospital to No. 1 Convalescent Camp at Boulogne.
On 11th 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 10th April 1918. He was fined one days pay.
On 21st April 1918 he was discharge to the Australian Infantry Base Depot at Le Havre, France.
On 18th May 1918 Private Cummings departed France bound for England classed B2.
He arrived at the No. 2 Command Depot at Weymouth, England, on 19th May 1918.
On 31st May 1918 he marched out to No. 4 Convalescent Depot at Hurdcott, England.
On 12th July 1918 Private Cummings went to the Camp Isolation Hospital sick with Scabies.
On 23rd July 1918 Private Cummings was charged with being absent without leave from 28th June 1918 till being apprehended in London on 8th July 1918. He was also charged with resisting escort, and assault. He was sentenced to 105 days detention.
On 24th July 1918 Private Cummings was admitted to the detention ward of the 1st Australian Dermatological Hospital at Bulford, England.
He was discharged on 5th August 1918 and sent to the Detention Barracks at Lewes, England.
On 24th 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 7th December 1918 Private Cummings was charged with being absent without leave from 2130 on 18th November 1918 till 27th 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 18th December 1918 with debility, bound for Australia.
He arrived in Australia on 11th February 1919, and was discharged medically unfit on 11th May 1919.
[1] NAA: B2455, CUMMINGS A J
[2] Australia War Memorial. First World War Embarkation Rolls, Arthur Joseph Cummings, HMAT Wiltshire A18, 22nd August 1916.
1915 Coo-ee March 