Derwas Cumming

Cumming was born in Millicent, South Australia, on 29 September 1891, the second of five children born to Catherine Frances Henrietta (née Jones),[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article55030080 Thrilling Pioneering: Early Days in South-East: Chat with Mrs. Kate Cumming, The (Adelaide) Register, (Wednesday, 28 April 1926), p.12.] and Charles Walter Cumming.[http://www.geni.com/people/Derwas-Goring-Charles-Cumming/6000000013240625027 Derwas Goring Charles Cumming] – GENi. Retrieved 5 April 2012. Both his parents were of English origin.[http://www.borderonline.com.au/display/history/21.html THRILLING PIONEERING]. Originally published in The Register, 28 April 1926. Retrieved 5 April 2012.

File:Cumming brothers, 1916.jpg

Cumming's uncle, Brigadier General Michael Derwas Goring-Jones, CMG, DSO, died as a consequence of poison gas in May 1919."[...] also May 1919, his uncle, Brigadier General Michael Derwas Goring Jones, C.M.G., D.S.O., the result of gas on the Somme." [http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article27962905 Family Notices] – The West Australian. Published 5 May 1921. Retrieved 7 April 2012, from [http://trove.nla.gov.au Trove].[http://www.durhamatwar.org.uk/story/14140 Durham at War: Michael Derwas Goring-Jones (1866-1919).]

Cumming's older brother, Redmond Harry Owen Cumming, had been taken as a prisoner of war in April 1917.[https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/NAAMedia/ViewPDF.aspx?B=3475274&D=D World War I Service Records: Captain Redmond Harry Owen Cumming.][http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article210595434 The Brave Pioneers: The Old Spirit Remains: Descendants in the War, The (Adelaide) Express and Telegraph, (Thursday, 11 June 1919), p.1.] Unable to cope with his wartime experiences, he poisoned himself in March 1922,See: [https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/NAAMedia/ShowImage.aspx?B=32486716&S=1&T=PDF&D=D Department of Repatriation Records: Captain Redmond Harry Owen Cumming.] two months before the birth of a daughter.[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article41692230 Births: Cumming, The Western Mail, (Thursday, 25 May 1922), p.19.]

At a young age, his family returned to Perth, Western Australia (Charles Cumming's hometown). There, he attended the Christian Brothers' College on St Georges Terrace, serving as a prefect in 1909. According to The West Australian, Cumming was "one of the best known and most popular of the boys attending the secondary schools of Western Australia"."Captain Cumming was one of the best known and most popular of the boys attending the secondary schools of Western Australia. He was a good athlete, and a natural leader." [http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article27478382 DEATH OF CAPTAIN DERWAS CUMMING.] – The West Australian. Published 21 May 1918. Retrieved 6 April 2012, from [http://trove.nla.gov.au Trove].

At school, he excelled at both cricket and football, captaining the college's cricket team in 1909."Mr. Derwas Cumming, the captain of the College Cricket Club, and one of the prefects of the school, on behalf of the teachers and students, then presented Lady Bedford with a handsome silver-mounted toilet case [...]" [http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article37592195 CHRISTIAN BROTHERS' COLLEGE.] – The Western Mail. Published 10 April 1909. Retrieved 6 April 2012, from [http://trove.nla.gov.au Trove]. The following year, he was named Champion Athlete at the combined athletics carnival of the Public Schools Association,"Christian Brothers' College were also represented by the most successful athlete in Cumming, who, it may be stated in passing, is a prominent League foot-baller." [http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article38367515 SECONDARY SCHOOLS' SPORTS] – The Western Mail. Published 10 December 1910. Retrieved 6 April 2012, from [http://trove.nla.gov.au Trove]. after winning the 100-yard race, 220-yard race, the 440-yard race, the 120-yard hurdles, the high jump, and the long jump.[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article26294507 SECONDARY SCHOOLS' SPORTS] – The West Australian. Published 27 October 1910. Retrieved 6 April 2012, from [http://trove.nla.gov.au Trove].

While playing for the school football team, Cumming caught the eye of recruiters from the Perth Football Club in the West Australian Football League (WAFL), and subsequently made his debut against {{WAFL|EP}} on 22 June 1907."It was the first appearance of Cumming, who hails from the Christian Brothers' College [...]" [http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article25706226 EAST PERTH V. PERTH] – The West Australian. Published 24 June 1907. Retrieved 6 April 2012, from [http://trove.nla.gov.au Trove].

Cumming did not play in Perth's grand final over {{WAFL|EF}} in September 1907, in which they recorded their first premiership, but did play in the losing grand finals in 1908 and 1909.[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article76816427 THE FINAL MATCH] – The Daily News. Published 26 September 1908. Retrieved 7 April 2012, from [http://trove.nla.gov.au Trove].

He was aged 15 years and 273 days on his debut, making him one of only four people confirmed to have played senior WAFL football before their sixteenth birthday, along with Stan Hussey, Anthony Forrest, and Stan Magro.Greg Wardell-Johnson and Steve Davies. [http://www.wafooty.com.au/download/d/JVqV61l21-D2EOJXYMmfqpXBkpdGaI8-CZYWxb55Ro4 "Youngest WAFL footballers"] In 1941, when asked to rank Perth Football Club champion players over the preceding 30 years,

::"[club stalwart, Roy] White chose Derwas Cumming as Perth's best half-forward. He was a great footballer at Christian Brothers' College, and while still at school played for Perth. Even at that age he distinguished himself. Unfortunately, he was one who left the playing field for the battle field and was killed." Western Mail, Thursday, 7 August 1941.[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page3582840 Ranking List: Perth Champions Recalled, The Western Mail, p.40.]

After graduating from Christian Brothers' College in 1910, he left Western Australia to attend Trinity College at the University of Melbourne. While at the university, Cumming played a number for the University Football Club in the Victorian Football League (VFL), during which time he was generally referred to by his nickname, "Dave".Holmesby, Russell & Main, Jim (2007). The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers. 7th ed. Melbourne: Bas Publishing.

He played a total of 21 games for the club,[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article198130787 The University Team, The Leader, (Saturday, 4 May 1912), p.29.] kicking 34 goals, before returning to Perth after the completion of his degree.[http://afltables.com/afl/stats/players/D/Dave_Cumming.html Dave Cumming] – AFLTables. Retrieved 7 April 2012. Cumming's best performance for University was five goals against {{AFL Gee}} in the last match of the 1911 season, out of only seven goals for the team.[http://afltables.com/afl/stats/games/1911/091719110902.html University v Geelong], Sat, 2-Sep-1911 3:00 PM – AFL Tables. Retrieved 4 August 2015. He finished the 1912 season with 17 goals from 10 games, second only to Bert Hartkopf for the club. This included two goals in University's round-three defeat of {{AFL Ric}}, the only win of Cumming's VFL career.[http://afltables.com/afl/stats/1911.html#17 1911 Player Stats: University] – AFL Tables. Retrieved 4 August 2015.

Working for a time at Yalkin, his mother's farm at Doodlakine, Cumming enlisted in the Australian Army in September 1914.[http://www.jccglass.me.uk/salop/jones-info3f.html Info 3f, Derwas Cumming] – JCC Glass. Retrieved 7 April 2012.

He left Australia on the transport ship Medic in November 1914 as a private in the 1st Divisional Ammunition Column, but transferred to the 16th Battalion in October 1915, where he served in the Gallipoli Campaign. Cumming transferred to the 48th Battalion in March 1916, as a second lieutenant, and was sent to serve on the Western Front with his unit.[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page23068685 A Letter from France, The Saturday Record, (Saturday, 2 September 1916), p.12.] He was wounded in action at the Battle of Pozières, which necessitated a period of recovery in England, but was promoted to the rank of lieutenant before his return to France.[http://naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/Imagine.asp?B=3475111&I=1&SE=1 Copy of Attestation Paper] – National Archives. Retrieved 7 April 2012.

Cumming was again promoted, to captain, in April 1917, and in June of the same year was awarded the Military Cross for "conspicuous gallantry and ability in handling two companies of his Battalion participating in the attack", which occurred during "operations for capture of objective east of Messines on June 7th to 9th 1917." It was also noted: "[t]his officer's quick appreciation of the situation and prompt and effective action was greatly responsible for the consolidation and final success."[http://www.aif.adfa.edu.au:8080/showPerson?pid=69202 Derwas Goring Charles CUMMING] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402121700/http://www.aif.adfa.edu.au:8080/showPerson?pid=69202 |date=2 April 2015 }} – The AIF Project. Retrieved 7 April 2012. He was also recommended for the Distinguished Service Order, but did not receive the award, possibly due to his rank.

In April 1918, Cumming received a Bar to the Military Cross, for "conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in command of a flank company". He had "repeatedly repulsed" the enemy, then "protected the left, bringing very heavy fire onto the enemy", fighting a "brilliant rear guard action until the battalion was established in fresh positions.""He saw much service at France, was wounded at Pozieres, gained the Military Cross at Messines, and the bar to the Cross at Albert, in April 1918." [http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5657187 THE BRAVE PIONEERS] – The Advertiser. Published 27 June 1919. Retrieved 7 April 2012, from [http://trove.nla.gov.au Trove].

Cumming died of wounds after the Second Battle of Villers-Bretonneux, on 3 May 1918. It was originally believed he was buried at the Australian-British Cemetery, but in 1923 it was discovered the site supposed to be his grave was marked with a military cross, rather than a grave marker. However, his name is included on the Villers–Bretonneux Australian National Memorial.

• List of Victorian Football League players who died on active service

{{Reflist}}

• Main, J. & Allen, D., "Cumming, Derwas", pp. 52–54 in Main, J. & Allen, D., Fallen – The Ultimate Heroes: Footballers Who Never Returned From War, Crown Content, (Melbourne), 2002.
• [https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R2308581 First World War Nominal Roll: Captain Derwas Goring Cumming, Australian War Memorial.]
• [https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1726957 Roll of Honour: Captain Derwas Goring Charles Cumming, Australian War Memorial.]
• [https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/NAAMedia/ViewPDF.aspx?B=3475111&D=D First World War Service Record: Derwas Goring Charles Cumming (3087, National Archives of Australia.]

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• {{AFL Tables|ref=D/Dave_Cumming.html}}
• [http://www.awm.gov.au/research/people/roll_of_honour/person.asp?p=571346 Derwas Goring Charles Cumming] on the Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour

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Category:1891 births

Category:1918 deaths

Category:Australian Anglicans

Category:Australian Army officers

Category:20th-century Australian farmers

Category:Australian military personnel killed in World War I

Category:Australian people of English descent

Category:Australian rules footballers from South Australia

Category:People educated at Christian Brothers' College, Perth

Category:People educated at Trinity College (University of Melbourne)

Category:Perth Football Club players

Category:Australian recipients of the Military Cross

Category:University Football Club players

Category:Australian Rules footballers: place kick exponents

Category:University of Melbourne alumni

Category:People from Millicent, South Australia

Category:Australian rules footballers from Perth, Western Australia

Category:Military personnel from South Australia