| Regimental number | 3032 |
| Place of birth | Balmain, New South Wales |
| School | Christian Brothers School, Balmain, New South Wales |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
| Occupation | Labourer |
| Address | 74 Carlton Crescent, Summer Hill, New South Wales |
| Marital status | Single |
| Age at embarkation | 26 |
| Height | 5' 7.5" |
| Weight | 140 lbs |
| Next of kin | Sister, Mrs K Burns, 89 Victoria Street, Footscray, Victoria |
| Previous military service | Nil |
| Enlistment date | |
| Place of enlistment | Liverpool, New South Wales |
| Rank on enlistment | Private |
| Unit name | 2nd Battalion, 10th Reinforcement |
| AWM Embarkation Roll number | 23/19/2 |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A69 Warilda on |
| Rank from Nominal Roll | Private |
| Unit from Nominal Roll | 54th Battalion |
| Fate | Killed in Action |
| Age at death | 27 |
| Age at death from cemetery records | 26 |
| Place of burial | Fromelles (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 details | Sister'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). |
| Sources | NAA: B2455, CUCKSON William Joseph
Red Cross file 850506 Red Cross file 791008 |
Postal Address:
Po Box 7916
Canberra BC 2610, Australia
Street Address:
Northcott Drive,
Campbell, ACT 2600
