CUMBERLAND, Joseph Hilton
| Service Number: | 837 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 31 August 1914, Sydney, New South Wales |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 2nd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Scone, New South Wales, Australia, 21 April 1894 |
| Home Town: | Scone, Upper Hunter Shire, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Scone Public School, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Locomotive Fireman |
| Died: | Died of wounds, Egypt, 5 May 1915, aged 21 years |
| Cemetery: |
Alexandria (Chatby) Military and War Memorial Cemetery Row C, Grave No. 173. MEMORIAL: St. Luke's Anglican Churchyard Scone, Upper Hunter Shire, New South Wales, Australia |
| Memorials: | Armidale Memorial Fountain, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Haymarket NSW Government Railway and Tramway Honour Board, Scone Barwick House War Memorial Arch |
World War 1 Service
| 31 Aug 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 837, Sydney, New South Wales | |
|---|---|---|
| 18 Oct 1914: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 837, 2nd Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '7' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Suffolk embarkation_ship_number: A23 public_note: '' | |
| 18 Oct 1914: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 837, 2nd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Suffolk, Sydney | |
| 25 Apr 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 837, 2nd Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli | |
| 25 Apr 1915: | Wounded Private, 837, 2nd Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli, Died of wounds (lower extremity) 05 May 1915 |
Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board
Joseph Hilton CUMBERLAND, (Serial Number 837) was born on 21 April 1894 near Scone. He commenced working for the NSW Railways as a locomotive cleaner at Murrurundi Locomotive Depot on his 19th birthday, in 1913. He was still working in this role when, soon after the outbreak of the war, he joined the Expeditionary Force’, enlisting on 31 August.
He left Australia through Sydney aboard HMAT ‘Suffolk’ on 18 October 1914,
Submitted 9 June 2023 by John Oakes
Biography contributed by John Oakes
Joseph Hilton CUMBERLAND (Serial Number 837) was born on 21st April 1894 near Scone. He commenced working for the NSW Railways as a locomotive cleaner at Murrurundi Locomotive Depot on his 19th birthday, in 1913. He was still working in this role when, soon after the outbreak of the war, he joined the Expeditionary Forces’, enlisting on 31st August.
He left Australia from Sydney aboard HMAT ‘Suffolk’ on 18th October 1914. He joined the 2nd Australian Infantry Battalion. His brother, Oliver James Cumberland, was also with the 2nd Battalion.
The brothers both landed at Gallipoli on Anzac Day or very soon after. Oliver was wounded on that day. Joseph had already been evacuated to Alexandria by 5th May. Oliver returned after treatment of his wounds but died at the battle of Lone Pine on 8th August.
Joseph’s railway record also records that he ‘Died from wounds received at the Dardanelles’ on 7th May 1915. The official date is 5th May. He died at the 15th General Hospital, Alexandria (Egypt), and is buried in Chatby Military Cemetery, Alexandria.
Later there was much disputation and correspondence about the fate of the service medals due to the two brothers. The Act required that they go to the father of a deceased soldier, or if he were dead, the eldest surviving brother, who in this family was Frederick Arthur.
In the report of Sergeant Haddon of the NSW Police at Scone who was called to investigate, Frederick was ‘slightly mentally deficient, and certainly of a very rambling and careless disposition’ and ‘not a fit and proper person to receive his brothers’ decorations as he would likely lose, or perhaps sell or pawn them.’
The military authorities accepted this view and the medals went to a younger brother and sister.
- based on notes for the Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board
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