Donald Walter Cumming

Donald Walter Cumming

Personal Information
Date of Birth	28 Jun 1925
Place of Birth	Perth, Western Australia
Death	31 Jul 1946, aged 21
Place of Death	Byford, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	18 years, 6 months (16 years, 6 months)
Description	5'9" (1.75m) tall ; ; fair complexion ; blue eyes ; fair hair ; first knuckle right index finger missing.
Occupation	Dairy hand
Religion	Presbyterian
Address	Byford, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Father , Mr Donald Cumming
Military Information
Reg Number	W4472 & WX23611
Date of Enlistment	10 Dec 1941 & 18 Jul 1942 (AIF)
Rank	Gunner
Unit/Formation	102nd Australian Composite Anti-Aircraft Regiment (HE)
Post War Details
Fate	Remained in Australia
Monument(s)	ANZAC Memorial Park (Byford) Byford WW2 Honour Roll
Medals	War Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal 1939-45

War Service

On 10 Dec 1941 Donald enlisted in the CMF at Claremont with Army Number W4472 giving his date of birth as 28 Jun 1923, when he was just 16 years and 6 months old (birth year was 1925). On 12 Dec 1941 he was posted to Fortress Engineers, Fremantle Fixed Defences and was sent to Rottnest Island. On 28 Dec 1941 he was admitted to the 39th Australian Camp Hospital on Rottnest, returning to his unit on 4 Jan 1942. On 22 Feb 1942 he was sent back to the mainland and admitted to 110th Australian Base Hospital before returning to his unit on 12 Mar 1942, but granted 3 days leave. He was also granted three day's leave in April. Ill again, he was admitted to the 39th Australian Camp Hospital on Rottnest on 3 May, returning to his unit on 8 May 1942. However, on 27 May he was again admitted to the Rottnest Camp Hospital, returning to his unit on 20 Jun 1942.

Donald was AWOL from 10:00am on 23 Jun 1942 until 10:00am on 26 Jun 1942, resulting in a fine of 30/- ($3) and the forfeiture of three day's pay. On 27 Aug 1942 he disobeyed Camp Standing Orders, resulting in a 10/- fine. On 12 Nov 1942 he was charged with having been AWOL for 6.5 hours the previous day. This time he was fined 50/- ($5). He was granted leave without pay from 23 Dec 1942 to 5 Feb 1943. Again Donald was AWOL, this time on 31 Mar 1943, resulting in a £5 fine.

On 18 Jul 1942 Donald enlisted in the 2nd AIF with Army number WX26311. He was transferred on 1 May 1943 to the 'J' Australian Heavy Battery (Coast). Donald was AWOL from 9:00am on 1 Jan 1944 until 9:00am on 3 Jan 1944, and was fined £3, and forfeited 2 day's pay. Then on 25 Feb he was charged with 'Neglecting to obey General Orders' in that he was found gambling, resulting in 14 days Confined to Barracks. He was then granted LWOP from 30 Mar 1944 until 13 May 1944, and soon after he returned to his unit he was admitted to the 110th Australian Base Hospital (22 May until 8 Jun 1944). On 10 Jun 1944 he had returned to his unit. Donald was again AWOL, ths time from 9:00 1 July until 9:00am 3 Jul 1944, forfeiting 2 day's pay and receiving an admonishment from his Commanding Officer.

On 1 Sep 1944 Donald faced a District Court Martial at Claremont on 5 charges; 1)Receiving, knowing it to have been stolen, a 10 gallon keg of Beer, the property of 'J' Australian Heavy Battery Canteen on 13 Aug 1944; 2)Conduct to the Prejudice of Good Order and Military Discipline, in that he consumed beer which had been removed from 'J' Australian Heavy Battery Canteen on 13 Aug 1944; 3)Using threatening language to his Superior Officer; 4) Neglecting to obey Battery Routine Orders, being out of bed after Lights Out at 10:15pm on 13 Aug 1944; 5) Drunkeness. Findings: Not guilty of charges 1 and 3, but Guilty of charges 2, 4 and 5. He was sentenced on 1 Sep 1944 to 60 days detention, with 60 day's loss of pay. The sentence was confirmed by Western Command HQs.

Donald was conveyed to the 11th Australian Detention Barracks the same day. His sentence was later suspended after he had served 29 days, and he was released on 2 Oct 1944 to join 102nd Australian Composite Anti-Aircraft Regiment (HE). There on 11 Oct 1944 Donald signed a Statutory Declaration to the effect that the was 2 years younger than previously thought by the Army. On 30 Oct 1944 Donald's records were updated to include a previous offence not previously recorded: Disobeing on 14 Nov 1942, a lawful command, for which he had been fined £3 and awarded 7 days Confined to Barracks. On 15 Dec 1944, along with his unit, Donald entrained in Perth for New South Wales.

On 2 Mar 1945 he was transferred to 1st Australian Base Depot Personnel as a general reinforcement. He transferred to the 2nd Australian Infantry Training Battalion on 9 Mar 1945, but was admitted to the Cessnock Disrict Hospital on 6 Apr 1945 with Cerebral Concussion. The following day he was transferred to the 70th Australian Camp Hospital who released him to his unit on 10 Apr 1945. Donald was sent on a baking and cooking course from 10 April until 7 May 1945 which he failed. He was then sent to Australian Reinforcement Training Battalion (Jungle Warfare) at Cunungra on 4 Aug 1945. He was sent back to Western Command Recruit Reception & General Details Depot on 6 Nov 1945 and on arrival was posted to the 26th Australian Works Company. He was finally transferred back to Western Command Recruit Reception & General Details Depot on 16 May 1946 for discharge on 21 May 1946.