CUMMINGS, Michael
| Service Number: | 4033 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 1 July 1916, Cairns, Queensland |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 31st Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Irvinebank, Queensland, Australia, 16 January 1893 |
| Home Town: | Irvinebank, Tablelands, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Irvinebank State School,Queensland, Australia |
| Occupation: | Miner |
| Died: | Broncho-Pneumonia, Military Hospital, Fovant, Wiltshire, England, 13 April 1917, aged 24 years |
| Cemetery: |
Baverstock (St. Edith) Churchyard INSCRIPTION -THY WILL BE DONE |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Irvinebank Roll of Honor |
World War 1 Service
| 1 Jul 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Cairns, Queensland | |
|---|---|---|
| 21 Oct 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 4033, 31st Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '16' embarkation_place: Brisbane embarkation_ship: HMAT Boonah embarkation_ship_number: A36 public_note: '' | |
| 21 Oct 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 4033, 31st Infantry Battalion, HMAT Boonah, Brisbane | |
| Date unknown: | Involvement 31st Infantry Battalion, Fromelles (Fleurbaix) |
Private Michael Cummings
The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK
Died on this date - 13th April........Private Michael Cummings was born at Irvinebank, Queensland in 1893. He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on 1st July, 1916 as a 23 year old Miner.
Private Cummings stated he had previously served & was mobilised for War Service in August, 1914 with the Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force for Thursday Island (War Station) Garrison Duty. He was supposed to take part in the capture of German New Guinea but because of the trouble caused by the fireman on the troopship they did not participate. He was discharged on 18th September, 1914.
Private Cummings arrived in England on 10th January, 1917 with the 10th Reinforcements of 31st Battalion for further training & was posted to 8th Training Battalion at Hurdcott, Wiltshire. He was admitted to Park House Hospital on 5th March, 1917 with Mups & discharged 25th March, 1917.
Private Cummings was admitted to Fovant Military Hospital, Wiltshire on 4th April, 1917.
Private Michael Cummings died at 2.40 a.m. on 13th April, 1917 from Broncho Pneumonia. He was buried in the churchyard of St. Edith’s at Baverstock, Wiltshire where 28 other WW1 Australian Soldiers are buried.
(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/baverstock.html
Submitted 13 April 2020 by Evan Evans
Biography contributed by Geoffrey Gillon
He was 24 and the son of Patrick and Mary Ann Cummings, of Irvinebank, Queensland.
Member of the Irvinebank Rifle Club
Biography contributed by Cathy Sedgwick
The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick (OAM) – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland”
Michael James Cummings was born at Irvinebank, Queensland on 16th January, 1893 to parents Patrick & Mary Annie Cummings (nee Foley).
He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 1st July, 1916 as a 23 year old, single, Miner from Irvinebank, Queensland.
On the Attestation Papers completed by Michael Cummings on 6th June, 1916 – he stated he had previously served in 2nd Infantry (Demobilised). According to other paperwork included in Private Michael Cummings’ Service Record File – He was mobilised for War Service in August, 1914 & embarked at Cairns, Queensland on 8th August, 1914 for Thursday Island (War Station) Garrison Duty. He enlisted on 14th August, 1914 for service outside Australia. He re-embarked at Thursday Island on 16th August, 1914 on troopship Kanowna to take part in the capture of German New Guinea & was taken on strength of the A. N. & M. E. F. dated 6th September, 1914. He returned to Townsville on 18th September, 1914 on account of the trouble caused by the fireman on the troopship. He did not participate in the capture of German New Guinea & was discharged on 18th September, 1914. He was classified as eligible for British War Medal.
Private Michael Cummings, Service number 4033, embarked from Brisbane, Queensland on HMAT Boonah (A36) on 21st October, 1916 with the 8th Infantry Brigade, 31st Infantry Battalion, 10th Reinforcements & disembarked at Plymouth, England on 10th January, 1917.
Reinforcements were only given basic training in Australia. Training was completed in training units in England. Some of these were located in the Salisbury Plain & surrounding areas in the county of Wiltshire.
He was admitted sick to Park House Hospital, Wiltshire on 5th March, 1917 from 8th Training Battalion at Hurdcott, Wiltshire with mumps. He was released from hospital back to 8th Training Battalion on 25th March, 1917.
On 4th April, 1917 Private Cummings was admitted sick to Fovant Military Hospital from “A” Company, 8th Training Battalion.
Private Michael Cummings died at 2.40 a.m. on 13th April, 1917 at Military Hospital, Fovant, Wiltshire from Broncho Pneumonia.
He was buried in St. Edith’s Churchyard, Baverstock, Wiltshire, England where 28 other WW1 Australian War Graves are located.
(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/baverstock.html
Click images to start slideshow.