Cumming, Andrew
7984 Sergeant Andrew Smith Cumming - 6th Field Artillery Brigade
Andrew Smith Cumming was born in Williamstown Victoria on the 25th August 1893 to George and Annie Cumming. He was one of seven siblings with, Donald 1892, George 1893, Gilbert 1895, Edith 1898, David 1900 and Colin 1903.
The family moved to Fremantle WA in the 1900's and took up residence in John Street North Fremantle. Andrew completed his education in Fremantle and after leaving school he found employment as a clerk.
John had enlisted soon after war was declared and had been assigned to the 8th Battery but he asked to be released from service which was granted for domestic reasons.
On the 18th August 1915 Andrew enlisted again and was passed as fit for service, with the medical examiner recording Andrew's physical attributes as;
Height - 5 feet 11 & 1/2 inches tall;
Weight - 149lbs;
Chest Measurement - 34-38 inches;
Complexion - Fair;
Eyes - Grey;
Hair - Light Brown.
After his successful enlistment Andrew was assigned to the Artillery reinforcements and was then sent to Victoria to continue his training. Andrew was soon assigned to the 16th Battery of the 6th Field Artillery Brigade.
On the 22nd November 1915 Andrew embarked from Port Melbourne aboard the transport ship Persic and then set sail for Egypt where they arrived on the 21st December 1916.
The men were then disembarked and sent into camp and continued their training. They were in Egypt for nearly three months. On the 17th March 1916 the 6th Field Artillery Brigade left Egypt and proceeded to France, arriving at Marseilles on the 23rd March 1916.
The men were then entrained north for the Armentieres sector of the Western Front. They set up their artillery batteries in this sector and were here for the next few months gaining experience of the Western Front.
In July 1916 the 6th Field Artillery Brigade moved to the Somme battlefield and supported the infantry operations at Pozieres through July and August 1916. In September 1916 they moved to the Belgian front near Ypres for a few weeks and while here Andrew was promoted to Bombardier.
In October 1916 Andrew's unit returned to the Somme battlefield and they would spend the months of November 1916 to February 1917 in this sector. It was reportedly the coldest French winter in decades.
On the 2nd April 1917 Andrew reported sick and was sent to the 7th Field Ambulance and then the 3rd Casualty Clearing Station. He was diagnosed with trench fever and was sent to the 2nd Australian General Hospital at Boulogne. He only spent four days there and was then transferred to England.
On arrival he was sent to Spalding Hall Hospital and he remained under care till the 4th May 1917. Andrew was then well enough that he was given a two week furlough before he had to report in for duty.
On the 19th May 1917 he reported into No.4 Command Depot Camp at Wareham. He was there till the 31st May when he was transferred to the Artillery Camp at Larkhill. Andrew was then put on the artillery training staff for the next several weeks.
On the 9th August 1917 Andrew returned to France and after a week at the Base Depot Camp, he rejoined the 6th Field Artillery Brigade on the 17th August 1917. Andrew's unit where then in Belgium providing fire support during the Third Battle of Ypres.
On the 9th September 1917 Andrew fell ill again and was evacuated to the 7th Field Ambulance. He was found to be suffering again from trench fever. He was again sent to the 2nd Australian General Hospital at Boulogne and after a few days was sent to England. Andrew was then admitted to the Queens Canadian Military Hospital and remained there till the 16th October when Andrew was transferred to the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Dartford.
He was released from hospital in November 1917 but was then sent to No.2 Command Depot at Weymouth and then spent more time at No.3 Command Depot Camp at Hurdcott.
Andrew would be sent to the Artillery Camp at Larkhill in January 1918 and would be attached to the permanent cadre of staff and would remain there till the end of June 1918.
On the 10th July 1918 Andrew returned to France and then rejoined his unit near Villers Bretonneux on the 17th July 1918. Andrew would serve with his unit for the next three months and during this time was promoted to Corporal and then to Sergeant.
When the Amiens offensive commenced on the 8th August 1918 the artillery batteries followed up the infantry advance and they were constantly on the move forward till October 1918. Andrew was still with his unit when the Armistice was announced on the 11th November 1918.
In December 1918 he was sent to Paris on leave. After his return Andrew remained with the 6th FAB till the 17th February 1919. He was then sent to England and would remain in the base camp unit he was assigned a berth on a transport ship home.
On the 1st May 1919 Andrew boarded the transport ship Karagola and set sail for home, reaching Fremantle on the 4th June 1919.
Andrew was discharged from the AIF on the 27th July 1919.
He then returned home to North Fremantle but in 1921 moved to Battle Street Cottesloe Beach (Mosman Park) and was employed as a Civil Servant.
In 1927 Andrew married Ella Farhquar and a son Lesley was born in 1928, and Peter in 1930.
During the last 1920's Andrew moved to Carnamah to become a farmer. Carnamah is in the Mid West of WA over 300 kilometres north of Perth.
Prior to World War Two Andrew returned to Perth and took up residence at Keightley road Subiaco. He was again now working as a civil servant.
On the 17th July 1940 Andrew enlisted into the Australian Army during World War Two. He was accepted as fit and assigned the regimental number WX4894 and was assigned to the Australian Army Pay Corps.
Andrew was based in Perth till October 1940 and was then shipped to the Middle East with other 2nd AIF soldiers. He was based at Gaze from November 1940 through to January 1941.
Andrew was then sent home as medically unfit for further service. He then returned home to Subiaco and resumed his employment as a civil servant.
By 1949 the family were at Victoria Ave in Nedlands but Andrew then retired and went back to Victoria to live.
He was at Brighton Balaclava Victoria through to the 1970's
Andrew Smith Cumming died on the 23rd May 1979 in Glen Iris Victoria. He was buried in Springvale cemetery