Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
John George Cummins was born in 1890 at Broompark, County Durham the youngest of 2 sons he also had a younger sister. His father Robert Cummins, born at Broom in 1859, at the age of 21 was, in cooperation with his widowed uncle John Coxon, a farmer of 56 acres, living at Broom Lane Cottages, in the parish of Bearpark, County Durham. October 13th 1886 Robert was married in the district of County Durham to Elizabeth Tait, born at Plawsworth in 1865, the eldest daughter of agricultural labourer George Tait and his wife Mary.
In 1891 Robert and Elizabeth were the occupiers of Breckon Hill Farm, Broom, where they lived with their children Robert (3) and John George (1) along with John Coxon (65), farm servant John Vasey (19), domestic servant Jemima Cutthill (17) and listed as visitors Margaret (17) and Ida Tait (10). Robert had abandoned farming by 1901, now employed at the coke works as a labourer they had moved to 17, North Street, Whiten, near Stockton. their family was now complete with the birth of daughter Margaret Ellen in 1894.
John George in 1901 aged 11 years was a scholar, aged 21 years in 1911 he was employed as a labourer at the blast furnaces where his brother Robert (23) was traffic manager, Robert Snr was still employed at the coke ovens as a general labourer, between 1911 and 1919 they became the publicans at The Ship Inn, Redmarshall, Ferryhill.
John George Cummins having undergone physical examination August 31st 1914 was attested September 2nd 1914 at Stockton and enlisted for the duration of the war when, after the declaration of war, Lord Kitchener called for volunteers to join a New Army. Assigned as Private 16984 to the Durham Light Infantry he joined the Regiment at their depot at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland where he was transferred to the 11th Battalion. In November they moved into huts at Pirbright and given blue serge uniforms, officers and men having been using up to that time their own clothing. Leather equipment and obsolete rifles were issued in March 1915 while they were at Larkhill. Due of the number of miners in its ranks the 11th Battalion in January 1915 had been made the 20th Division’s Pioneer Battalion, intended to be working as both labourers and fighting men as and when required once they were drafted overseas.
Final training completed Private Cummins departed as part of the British Expeditionary Force, July 20th 1915, with the 20th Division bound for France, landing at Boulogne and concentrating near St. Omer. They were moved to Fleurbaix area for trench familiarisation before being put to work behind the lines repairing roads and moving to the front line to drain trenches and strengthen barbed wire defences, December 15th 1915 he was taken to the 62nd Field Ambulance for medical attention, suffering from intestinal problems, returning to his unit 2 days later.
During the spring of 1916 the 11th Battalion saw action at the Battle of Mount Sorrel where the Division along with the Canadians recaptured the heights. Preparations were underway for the Battles of the Somme programmed to commence August 29th 1916 but due to bad weather, postponed until July 1st. The 11th Battalion attached to the 60th Brigade, 20th Division first entered into battle at Delville Wood July 31st-September 1st and without any rest, swiftly followed, by the Battle of Guillemont September 3rd-6th, Battle of Flers-Coucelette September 15th-22nd, the Battle of Morval September 25th-28th, and the Battle of Le Transloy October 1st-18th.
During the Battle of Flers-Courcelette Private Cummins was wounded, a gunshot wound to the head and face. He was taken by the Field Ambulance to the 34th Casualty Clearing Station, established in the village of Meaulte, near Albert.
Private 16984 John George Cummins Durham Light Infantry succumbed to wounds sustained on active service September 21st 1916 and was interred at Grove Town Cemetery, Somme, France, grave I. H. 7. He was 27 years old and single.
His father Robert Cummins received all monies due to him and his awards of the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to him at The Ship Inn, Redmarshall, Carlton, Ferryhill, County Durham. He commissioned at his own expense an additional inscription to be added to his son’s military headstone, it reads, "Peace Perfect Peace".
John George’s father died in 1926 aged 66 years, his death came less than a year after that of his son Robert Coxon Cummins who died aged only 38 years in 1925 and proceeded that of his wife Elizabeth Cummins nee Tait in 1927 aged 65 years, registered in the district of Sedgefield, County Durham. Details of daughter Margaret as yet unknown.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
John George Cummins is remembered at Stillington on S137.01 and S137.02
He is also remembered in The DLI Book of Remembrance page 256 as Cummings. The CWGC have recorded him correctly as Cummins as do all census documents although his military record states Cummings.
