The AIF Project

William John CUSACK

Regimental number4306
Place of birthToowong, Queensland
ReligionRoman Catholic
OccupationLabourer
AddressBrisbane, Queensland
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation29
Height5' 7.5"
Weight125 lbs
Next of kinMother, Mrs W. Cusack, Sherwood Road, Lowong, Brisbane, Queensland
Previous military serviceNil
Enlistment date2 September 1915
Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll2 September 1915
Place of enlistmentBrisbane, Queensland
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name15th Battalion, 13th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/32/2
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Brisbane, Queensland, on board HMAT A55 Kyarra on 3 January 1916
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll48th Battalion
FateDied of illness 9 October 1918
Place of burialVillers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery (Plot II, Row C, Grave No. 5/7), Fouilloy, France
Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
145
Other details

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Embarked Brisbane, 3 January 1916; disembarked Alexandria, Egypt, 19 February 1916.

Found guilty, 6 March 1916, of being absent without leave from 0700 hours, until 2000 hours, 6 March 1916: award, forfeits 1 day's pay.

Taken on strength of 47th Bn, Serapeum, 1 April 1916.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 2 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 9 June 1916.

Wounded in action, 9 August 1916; admitted to No 2 Australian Field Ambulance, 10 August 1916, and transferred to 1st Australian Divisional Rest Station the same day (shell shock); discharged, 13 August 1916; rejoined unit, 14 August 1916.

Found guilty, 22 August 1916, of (1) being absent without leave from 0700 hours, until apprehended at 1900 hours; (2) drunkenness; (3) using obscene language: awarded 14 days' Field Punishment No 2, forfeits 1 day's pay, and total forfeiture of 15 days' pay.

Found guilty, 28 October 1916, of while on active service, being absent when unit moved from Coquerel at 1030 hours, until 1600 hours, 27 October 1916: awarded 14 days' Field Punishment No 2.

Found guilty, 17 December 1916, of (1) being absent without leave from 1400 hours, until 1700 hours, 12 December 1916; (2) being in the town of Amiens without the written authority of his Commanding Officer: awarded 28 days' Field Punishment No 2.

Found guilty, 27 January 1917, of disobedience of orders in that he had a pair of gum boots in his possession: award, charged 1 pound for ankle boots.

Tried by Field General Court Martial, in the field, 2 February 1917, on charges of (1) conduct to the prejudice of good order and military discipline; (2) disobeying the lawful command of his superior officer; found Guilty of both charges: sentenced to 2 years' imprisonment with hard labour; sentence confirmed by Major General W. HOLMES, 5 February 1917; sentence promulgated, 7 February 1917.

Marched out of 47th Bn, 22 February 1917; admitted to No 4 Military Prison, Abancourt, 27 February 1917.

Released from No 3 Military Prison, 24 May 1918, and sentence suspended as from date of release; proceeded to unit, 24 May 1918; rejoined 47th Bn, 29 May 1918.

Transferred to, and taken on strength of 48th Bn, 29 May 1918.

Posted as absent without leave, 15 July 1918; returned to unit, 21 July 1918.

Found guilty, 23 July 1918, of being absent without leave from 0900 hours, 15 July 1918, until 21 July 1918: awarded 28 days' Field Punishment No 2, and total forfeiture of 35 days' pay.

Returned from being absent without leave, 3 September 1918.

Tried by Field General Court Martial, in the field, 10 September 1918, on a charge of being absent without leave from 2100 hours, 23 August 1918, until 1400 hours, 27 August 1918; found guilty: sentenced to 2 years' imprisonment with hard labour; sentence confirmed by General Officer Commanding, 12th Australian Infantry Bde, 10 September 1918; sentence promulgated, 13 September 1918.

Approval given, 17 September 1918, for sentence of 2 years' imprisonment with hard labour, 10 September 1918, to run concurrently with unexpired portion of previous sentence.

Admitted to prison, France, 5 October 1918.

Admitted to No 4 Australian Field Ambulance, 6 October 1918, and transferred to No 41 Stationary Hospital, the same day (pneumonia).

Died, 9 October 1918 (broncho pneumonia).

Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNAA: B2455, CUSACK William John

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