The AIF Project

William Joseph CUCKSON

Regimental number3032
Place of birthBalmain, New South Wales
SchoolChristian Brothers School, Balmain, New South Wales
ReligionRoman Catholic
OccupationLabourer
Address74 Carlton Crescent, Summer Hill, New South Wales
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation26
Height5' 7.5"
Weight140 lbs
Next of kinSister, Mrs K Burns, 89 Victoria Street, Footscray, Victoria
Previous military serviceNil
Enlistment date6 July 1915
Place of enlistmentLiverpool, New South Wales
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name2nd Battalion, 10th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/19/2
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A69 Warilda on 8 October 1915
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll54th Battalion
FateKilled in Action 19-10 July 1916
Age at death27
Age at death from cemetery records26
Place of burialFromelles (Pheasant Wood) Military Cemetery (Plot II, Row A, Grave No 4), France
Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
158
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Parents: William and Margaret CUCKSON
Other details

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Joined 2nd Bn, Tel el Kebir, 5 February 1916.

Transferred to 54th Bn, 14 February 1916; joined 54th Bn, Tel el Kebir, 16 February 1916.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 19 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 29 June 1916.

Reported missing, 19/20 July 1916.

Identification disc received from Germany. No particulars were afforded except that the soldier is deceased. To be reported killed in action, 19/20 July 1916, on the authority of the Assistant Adjutant General, ANZAC Section, War Office, 13 March 1917.

Translation of German report, 25 October 1919, 'Iden; Disc handed over by Intell: Off: with 6th Army H. Q. through Central Office for Deceased Estates, 12/10/16. Australian Soldier W. Cuckson, Iden: Disc 3032, of 54th Btn. fell in the neighbourhood of Fromelles on 19/7/16'.

Red Cross File No 850506 has statement from 3123 Sergeant F. POLDING, HQ Company, 54th Bn (patient, 9th General Hospital, Rouen), 9 November 1916: 'During the attack on Fleurbaix on the 19th July, we had very heavy losses. Many dead bodies were collected after the action and buried. I was informed by several men of the burying party that Cuckson's body was recovered and buried. I do not, however, remember the name of any particular man of the burying party who told me this.'

Second statement, 4337 V.F. PRIGG, 54th Bn (patient, 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Harefield, England), 15 September 1916: 'I saw him killed by shell explosion 19th July at Fleurbaix.'

Third statement, 4181 Pte C.T.A. HORDER, 54th Bn (patient, 3rd London General Hospital, Wandsworth, England), 10 November [1916]: 'Informant states that that on July 19th W.T. Cuckson was killed. Informant states that he himself saw Cuckson's grave at Sailly.'

Note on file: 'The above name appeared on German Death List dated 4-11-16.'

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal

Originally listed as 'No Known Grave' and commemorated at V.C. Corner (Panel No 10), Australian Cemetery, Fromelles; subsequently (2010) identified, and interred in the Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Military Cemetery, France.
Miscellaneous detailsSister's address subsequently 65 Carter Street, Albert Park, Victoria (22 August 1916); then 6 Charlotte Street, Richmond, Victoria (2 June 1917); then 54 Draper Street, South Melbourne, Victoria (1 July 1920).
SourcesNAA: B2455, CUCKSON William Joseph
Red Cross file 850506
Red Cross file 791008

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