Duhallow Cemetery: Pauline Priano
Duhallow Cemetery: Pauline Priano
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Thomas Cummings, affectionately known as Tom, one of 5 children of whom only 4 survived, was the eldest of 3 sons and a daughter, offspring of Richard and Sarah Cummings. Richard was born at East Rainton, December 30th 1870, Sarah Dobbie in 1873 at Freehold Rainton, both in the district of Houghton, County Durham. They were married in the district of Houghton in 1895, son Tom was born at Hetton Downs in 1896, Janet, February 15th 1900 at East Rainton where they were living as Richard was employed at the colliery as a coal hewer. Sarah gave birth to 2 sons over the next 10 years, David Dobbie Cummings in 1901 and Fred May 16th 1909 also at East Rainton. By 1911 they were living in 8 rooms at the Village Tavern, East Rainton, County Durham where Richard Cummings was employed as publican and brewer’s salesman. Tom (15) worked as a driver at the pit, Janet (11) and David (9) were scholars also in the household was Eleanor Brown (16) employed as a servant.
After the commencement of hostilities with Germany, Sunderland had already raised the 150th Brigade Royal Field Artillery, however, the War Office requested the Mayor and Recruiting Committee to raise an infantry battalion which attracted men from across the north east. Tom, having left his employment as a miner at West Rainton, was one of the first to enlist in the newly-formed 20th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry, at Houghton-le-Spring, County Durham, assigned as Private 613, October 26th 1915. He joined his regiment at Barnard Castle where they remained until January 1916 then moved to Aldershot where they were attached to the newly-formed 41st Division. The 20th Battalion D.L.I. was posted to the British Expeditionary Force and departed to France via Southampton May 4th 1916 disembarking at Le Havre May 5th.
With very little trench familiarisation the 20th Battalion entered the front line trenches north of Armentieres, May 29th 1916, where they remained for the next 3 months suffering heavy casualties. During this time Private Cummings was promoted to unpaid Lance Corporal, July 6th 1916 and later confirmed paid Lance Corporal, August 21st 1916.
September 1916 the division was ordered to leave Belgium for France where they participated in the final stages of the Battles of the Somme at Flers-Courcelette, September 14th-22nd before returning to the reserve to regroup and re-equip having lost over 100 men to shellfire. Lance Corporal Cummings was awarded the Military Medal for bravery during this encounter, London Gazette September 19th 1916. They returned to front line action October 1st fighting near Gueudecourt.
Under new orders the battalion returned to Belgium. Lance Corporal Cummings was admitted to the 15th Casualty Clearing Station, October 2nd 1916 suffering from conjunctivitis, was moved to the 36th C.C.S. that same day and finally admitted to the 24th General Hospital at Etaples in France, where he remained until October 12th. Discharged, he returned to the 35th Infantry Base Depot at Etaples and re-joined his regiment October 15th 1916. The Durham Light Infantry spent the winter of 1916/1917 in the trenches, patrolling no-man’s land, digging and repairing trenches under constant shellfire. By January 1917 Lance Corporal Cummings was one of only 450 of the original men who had landed in France in 1916 to have survived.
June 1917 they were at Messines Ridge and after a series of huge explosions, June 7th 1917, in the tunnels dug under the German lines, the 20th Battalion D.L.I. advanced capturing Dammstrasse and was again in action July 31st 1917 on the opening day of the 3rd Battle of Ypres, south of Klein Zillebeke, the objective was to take Imperial Trench from the Germans. Although the objective was reached they had over 450 casualties from machine gun and shell fire.
August 22nd 1917 Tom was appointed unpaid Lance Sergeant and returned to England on leave. He rejoined his regiment in Belgium and promoted to Sergeant October 7th 1917. After the actions of at Menin Road and the conclusion of the Battle of Passchendaele, November 10th 1917, the regiment received orders to prepare to depart to Italy. A joint British and French force departed to Italy, November 17th 1917, as the Italian Army had been defeated and the Austrian and German forces were threatening Venice. They took over the front line on the River Piave and remained in Italy until March 1918 when the 41st Division was withdrawn and returned to France
As part of the 41st Division the 20th Battalion D.L.I. remained on the Somme and where March 9th Sergeant Cummings was admitted to the 139th Field Ambulance with a scalp wound, returning to duty March 13th.
April 1918 they moved north to the Ypres salient in Belgium where during day to day trench warfare Sergeant Cummings and Private F. L. Fish, of Littleborough, Lancashire, also of the 20th Battalion Durham Light Infantry, were killed in action, April 28th 1918, their remains buried on the battlefield by their comrades and marked with crosses bearing their military details.
After the Armistice of 1918 at the request of the French and Belgian Governments isolated graves and small concentrations were brought into larger centuries. At map reference I. 2. c. 2. 9 remains were found still with crosses on the graves and brought into Duhallow A. D. S. Cemetery, Ypres, Belgium for reburial, February 19th 1919. Tom’s father Richard Cummings of 8, Johnson’s Buildings, West Rainton, Fence Houses, received a letter from No. 1 Infantry Record office, York, January 8th 1920, it reads, “Sir, I beg to inform you that it has been necessary to exhume the remains of the late No. 20/613 Sgt. Cummings, 20th Battalion Durham Light Infantry, for proper burial at Duhallow A.D.S. Cemetery, 3/4 miles North of Ypres. The new grave has been duly marked with a Cross bearing all the late soldier’s particulars. The removal was undertaken with every measure of care and reverence and the re-interment conducted by an Army Chaplain, I am, Sir, Your Obedient Servant, for Colonel, No.1 Infantry Records.”
Sergeant 613 Tom Cummings M.M. is at rest within Duhallow A.D.S. Cemetery, Ypres, Belgium, grave VI. A. 13. He was 22 years of age and single.
As his sole beneficiary his mother Sarah received all monies due to him from the Army, his award of the Military Medal, March 23rd 1918, British War Medal, November 25th 1920 and Victory Medal, November 23rd 1921.
Sarah Cummings nee Dobbie died aged 63 years in 1937, registered at registered at Houghton, County Durham.
Tom’s sister Janet married in 1922, district of Houghton, to William W. Hannah. Janet Hannah nee Cummings died aged 81 years in 1982 registered Durham central.
David Dobbie Cummings married Annie Robinson in 1928 district of Durham. David Dobbie Cummings of 7, North Terrace, Seaham Harbour, died December 21st 1963 at Ryhope General Hospital, County Durham, aged 62 years. Effects of £1421 to his widow Annie.
Fred Cummings in 1939, employed as a lorry driver, was living at 29, North Street, Hetton, County Durham, with his widowed father Richard employed as a colliery horse-keeper. Richard Cummings died in 1940 aged 69 years, registered at Durham Central, Fred Cummings aged 57 years in 1967 registered at Durham Northern.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Thomas Cummings is remembered in West Rainton W113.02 and W113.05
He is also remembered in The DLI Book of Remembrance page 103
