Studio portrait of 5990 Private William John Cumming, 38th Battalion from Bridgewater, Victoria. ...

Studio portrait of 5990 Private William John Cumming, 38th Battalion from Bridgewater, Victoria. A 21 year old farm labourer prior to enlisting on 1 May 1916, he embarked for overseas service as a Lance Corporal (L Cpl) with the 19th Reinforcements of the 6th Battalion from Melbourne aboard HMAT Themistocles (A32) on 28 July 1916. After disembarking in England, he transferred to the 38th Battalion and went with them to France in November 1916. L Cpl Cumming was wounded in action at Bois Grenier, France on 27 February 1917 and evacuated to England for medical treatment and recuperation. Following his recovery, he rejoined the 38th Battalion on 13 July 1917 at Messines Ridge, Belgium. He was later killed in action in the Third Battle of Ypres, Belgium on 4 October 1917 and is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres with others who have no known grave. His brother, 898 Company Sergeant Major Andrew Thomas Gordon Cumming, 7th Battalion died of wounds received at Gallipoli on 12 August 1915. [See image H05860.]