Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

From Australian Remembrance Army

Private John ‘Jack’ Cuthell (Service No. 1830), an Australian World War One veteran, is among almost 800 previously unmarked WWI veterans’ graves in Lutwyche Cemetery we have now marked with a plaque in recognition of their service for Australia.

We unveiled his plaque in Lutwyche Cemetery on 20 September 2025, along with a further 161 plaques on the previously unmarked graves of Australian World War One veterans:
See Australian Remembrance Army Facebook page

John Cuthell enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force at Toowoomba, Qld, on 6 January 1916, aged 36. After completing his training in Australia, he embarked for overseas service with the 4th Pioneer Battalion from Sydney aboard RMS Mooltan on 12 April 1916. He arrived in Egypt in May 1916, disembarking at Suez, before proceeding in June to France via Alexandria and Marseilles to join the British Expeditionary Force. In July 1916 he was taken on strength of the 4th Pioneer Battalion at Etaples, France, where the unit undertook essential engineering and labour duties in forward areas on the Western Front, often under hazardous and exposed conditions.

During his service in France, Cuthell suffered repeated illness and injury associated with front-line conditions. In 1917 he was hospitalised with pleurisy and transferred between hospitals, convalescent depots, and base camps in France. He was subsequently wounded by enemy gas on two separate occasions, with his service record recording gas poisoning and evacuation for treatment. These gas wounds resulted in prolonged periods of hospitalisation and recovery, and the seriousness of his condition is reflected in multiple notifications sent to his next of kin advising that he had been wounded, gassed, and admitted to hospital. Following extended medical treatment, John Cuthell was eventually repatriated to Australia, embarking on hospital transport in mid 1919. He disembarked on 2 August 1919 and was discharged shortly thereafter, concluding more than three years of wartime service.

Following his return to Australia, Private John Cuthell is recorded as living in Miles, Qld working as a labourer. He died at South Brisbane Hospital on 23 September 1958, aged 78, and was buried in Anzac Portion 9, Lutwyche Cemetery, Brisbane. John was a single man who never married and had no known children.

After decades without recognition at his place of burial, his grave now bears a plaque commemorating his service to Australia — ensuring his name endures among those remembered for their duty and sacrifice. His identity and dignity have now been restored.

We have remembered him.
Lest We Forget.