Cusack, Matthew

1915 Private Matthew Cusack - 28th Battalion

The majority of the Cusack’s arrived in Western Australia in 1900 on the ship Paroo, having previously lived in Scone NSW. On arrival they initially took up residence in Katanning but soon moved to Fremantle where they took up residence at 185 Holland Street. (In the 1930s the street was re-numbered and the residence became, and remains, 110 Holland Street.)  

Robert and Anne Cusack had seventeen children in all, though only 13 lived past infancy.

Their eldest son was Edward Patrick Cusack who had preceded his family to WA and he initially lived in the South West where he was employed in forestry work. He joined the police force for several years and then took up farming in Narembeen near Wandering.

Joe and Luke Cusack also joined him there though Luke would return to live in Fremantle.

At this stage, in 1912, Robert, Matthew, Luke and Bernie were still all living at home in Holland Street.

Matthew Cusack was working as a milkman when he enlisted into the AIF on 26 June 1915. He was 21 years old when he enlisted and was passed as fully fir for service. The medical examiner recorded his details as: 5 feet 7 inches; 136lbs; chest measurement of 35-37 inches; dark complexion, brown eyes and dark hair. This image of Matt Cusack was taken in Weymouth, England, around 30 October 1917.  Matt enlisted with his friend Bert Ellement of Fremantle.

Upon his successful enlistment Matt was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp where he was assigned to the 3rd Reinforcements to the 28th battalion. Pictured below in camp at Blackboy Hill is Bill Sheldrake, Bert Ellement and Matt Cusack (all front row). This photo below was taken on 21 July 1915.

His group left Fremantle on the 2nd September 1915 aboard the HMAT Anchises and just over three weeks later they had arrived in Egypt. He didn’t have long here as he was soon sent to Gallipoli where he was taken on strength of the 28th Battalion. It appears that Matt didn’t spend much time at Gallipoli as he returned to Mudros in late November 1915 and was attached for duty to the advanced base details camp.

The Australians were evacuated from Anzac in late December and Matt rejoined the 28th Battalion. The 28th Battalion then returned to Egypt and spent the next two months on training and holding positions in the Suez Canal defence line. On 16 March 1916 the 28th Battalion, as part of the 2nd Australian Division, embarked for France, arriving at Marseilles on 21 March 1916. They were then entrained north and had their first experience of the Western Front at Armentieres.

On 11 April Matt was evacuated to the 7th Field Ambulance with mumps and subsequently spent several weeks in hospital. He rejoined the 28th Battalion on 7 July 1916. The 28th Battalion were soon to be in action on the Somme front and on 29 July 1916 they were tasked with capturing a section of German line near Pozieres. Unfortunately the Germans were waiting and unleashed a murderous machine gun barrage which ripped into the ranks of advancing Western Australians. Matt was hit by a bullet through the right leg but managed to make his way back for medical attention. Stretcher bearers then took him to the Field Ambulance.

Matt was initially sent to hospital in Boulogne but on 31 July he was shipped to England where he was admitted to the 3rd Northern General Hospital in Sheffield. Fortunately it was a clean wound and Matt recovered quickly. On 19 August he was sent to the 7th Training Battalion on the Salisbury Plains. Matt remained at the training camp for several weeks and returned to France on 14 October 1916. He spent a further two weeks at the 2nd Australian Division Base Dept at Etaples, eventually rejoining the 28th Battalion on 30 October.

Matt served through the freezing French winter of 1916/17 on the Somme battlefield during which time he was promoted to Lance Corporal and then to Corporal. He served through various actions at Flers and Lagnicourt and on 1 May 1917 he was sent to the 7th Training Battalion in England to serve as an instructor for the next six months. It seems that during his period of training in England he specialised in teaching bombing instruction.

On 2 October 1917 Matt returned to France and was taken back on strength of the 28th Battalion. His unit was then in the midst of the Third Battle of Ypres. He was promoted to the rank of Temporary Sergeant on 15 October but Matt only lasted another fortnight as on 30 October he was again wounded when a shell exploded close by, shrapnel hitting him in the hand, arm and legs. Matt was evacuated to the 2nd Australian Casualty Clearing Station where initial treatment was given. He was then transferred to the 1st Australian General Hospital at Rouen. He spent over two weeks here and on 18 November 1917 he was shipped to England for further treatment.

Matt was initially sent to King George’s Hospital at Stanford but was then transferred to the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital in Dartford England and it was found that the wound to his hand was causing limited movement. This meant that he would be unfit for further service. On 22 January 1918 Matt was transferred to No.2 Command Depot Camp at Weymouth to await a berth on a hospital ship to Australia. Matt had to wait until 10 April 1918 when he boarded HMAT Borda, disembarking in Fremantle on 22 May 1918.

Matt would receive further treatment at No.8 Australian General Hospital in Fremantle and he was discharged from the AIF on 25 September 1918. 

After returning from the war Matt opened up a workshop from the family home in Holland Street, specialising in cabinet making and furniture works. He was also a keen sailor and also worked on repairing yachts.

In 1928 he married Myra Agnes Lee in Fremantle.

In World War Two Matt Cusack served again, mainly at Western Command at Karrakatta Camp. After being discharged in 1945 Matt opened up a business called Claremont Joinery works, located on Stirling Highway. 

He died in Busselton in 1966 aged 73