The AIF Project

Alexander George CUMMING

Regimental number58
Place of birthBendigo, Victoria
SchoolMarist Brothers Catholic College
ReligionRoman Catholic
OccupationFarm labourer
AddressSpring Gully, Bendigo, Victoria
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation21
Height5' 7"
Weight140 lbs
Next of kinFather, John Cumming, Spring Gully, Bendigo, Victoria
Previous military serviceNil
Enlistment date10 September 1914
Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll10 September 1914
Place of enlistmentBendigo, Victoria
Rank on enlistmentDriver
Unit name8th Light Horse Regiment, A Squadron
AWM Embarkation Roll number10/13/1
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board Transport A16 Star of Victoria on 25 February 1915
Rank from Nominal RollDriver
Unit from Nominal Roll8th Light Horse Regiment
FateKilled in Action 7 August 1915
Place of death or woundingGallipoli, Turkey
Age at death21
Age at death from cemetery records21
Place of burialNo known grave
Commemoration detailsThe Lone Pine Memorial (Panel 8), Gallipoli, Turkey

The Lone Pine Memorial, situated in the Lone Pine Cemetery at Anzac, is the main Australian Memorial on Gallipoli, and one of four memorials to men of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. Designed by Sir John Burnet, the principal architect of the Gallipoli cemeteries, it is a thick tapering pylon 14.3 metres high on a square base 12.98 metres wide. It is constructed from limestone mined at Ilgardere in Turkey.

The Memorial commemorates the 3268 Australians and 456 New Zealanders who have no known grave and the 960 Australians and 252 New Zealanders who were buried at sea after evacuation through wounds or disease. The names of New Zealanders commemorated are inscribed on stone panels mounted on the south and north sides of the pylon, while those of the Australians are listed on a long wall of panels in front of the pylon and to either side. Names are arranged by unit and rank.

The Memorial stands over the centre of the Turkish trenches and tunnels which were the scene of heavy fighting during the August offensive. Most cemeteries on Gallipoli contain relatively few marked graves, and the majority of Australians killed on Gallipoli are commemorated here.

Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
6
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Parents: John and Ellen CUMMING, Spring Gully, Victoria.
Family/military connectionsCousins: 139 Pte Richard Edward CUMMING, 10th Light Horse Regiment, killed in action in same charge at the Nek, 7 August 1915; 1022 CSM James CUMMING, Imperial Camel Brigade, returned to Australia, 23 December 1918; 728 Gunner Alexander CUMMING, Heavy Artillery Group.
Other details

War service: Egypt, Gallipoli

Admitted to No 2 General Hospital, Mena, Egypt, 14 April 1915 (influenza).

Found guilty, 16 July 1915, of being absent without leave from 5.30 am, 15 July, to 5.30 am, 16 July 1915: awarded 3 extra guard duties.

Proceeded to join Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, Gallipoli, 21 July 1915.

Killed in action, Gallipoli, 7 August 1915.

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNAA: B2455, CUMMING Alexander George

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