CUMMINGS, Henry Joseph
| Service Number: | S72970 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 27 April 1942 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | Not yet discovered |
| Born: | Jamestown, South Australia, 19 May 1901 |
| Home Town: | Belalie North, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Belalie North, South Australia |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Died: | Belalie North, South Australia, 13 November 1966, aged 65 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Jamestown Cemetery, South Australia |
| Memorials: |
World War 2 Service
| 27 Apr 1942: | Involvement Private, S72970 | |
|---|---|---|
| 27 Apr 1942: | Enlisted Jamestown, SA | |
| 27 Apr 1942: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Private, S72970 | |
| 25 Sep 1945: | Discharged |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Henry Cummings
Henry Joseph Cummings S72970
Belalie North, South Australia
Henry Joseph Cummings was a member of the Citizen Military Forces Personnel known as the Home Guard at Belalie North, before he enlisted on the 27 April 1942 as a Private in the Volunteer Defence Corps (VDC). It is believed that the bombing of Darwin in February 1942, motivated many local men to enlist.
As a member of the VDC he would have been trained in guerrilla warfare, collecting local intelligence. Providing static defence of the Belalie North area and taking part in coastal surveillance.
When Henry Joseph enlisted, he was 40 years and 10 months old. He listed his next of kin as his wife, Esther Victoria Cummings (nee Partridge) and that he had dependent children. Henry never left Australia probably due to his age, plus supporting a wife, 3 children, his mother and a single sister and being a farmer, who was producing food (sheep, cereal crops).
Amongst the questions asked, Henry stated that he could ride a horse, drive a car and motor lorry and do running repairs as well as drive a horse team. He was ‘taken on strength for part time duties in the VDC. Little other detail is provided apart from his discharge on 25 September 1945 ‘Because of the disbandment of his Corps’.
Henry was the first child of Henry (Harry) and Mary Anne (Annie) Cummings (nee Sparks) of Belalie North. He was born 19 May 1901, Jamestown, SA. and married Esther Victoria Partridge in 1933 in Prospect, South Australia.
Henry was an active member of the Belalie North community. He was the Secretary-Treasurer Belalie Hall Committee in 1924-1927 and 1950-1956. Secretary of Belalie North School Committee from 1941-1948. He was a member of the Belalie North Methodist Church Trust and became a trustee in 1931, on the death of his father who was Foundation Treasurer. In 1953 Henry presented the Belalie North Methodist Church a Communion Table in memory of his parents.
Henry was a progressive farmer. He owned the first rubber tyred tractor in Belalie. It was a 1935 model Twin City with three forward gears and a top working speed of 5 m.p.h. costing 420 pounds. His father had owned the second steel wheeled Twin City tractor in the area; 1925 model costing 560 pounds.
Family describe Henry Joseph as a quiet family man, a kindly man with a full measure of human sympathy. He had a passion and love of photography and sport. He was well respected in the community, honest as the day was long, community minded, patient, with firm religious beliefs.
Henry died 13 November 1966, Jamestown, South Australia where he was buried. He was survived by his widow, three sons, Henry, Ronald and Ray and daughter Nancy (Mrs Colin Swearse).
Brett Cummings
July 2020
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