Lest We Forget ... 'Diggers' in my family.

This post will be an on-going record, telling the stories of family members in my family tree who served on the western front in World War 1.
I originally started with eight (discovered during research in 2017-2018), but as I uncover more family members who enlisted for WW1, I will keep adding to this post.

Two great grandsons of Michael Cusack and Mary Green.

Henry James Sutton-Cusack

Regimental number	3709
Place of birth	Sydney New South Wales
Religion	Roman Catholic
Occupation	Miner
Address	Cawongla View, Kyogle, New South Wales
Marital status	Single
Age at embarkation	19
Next of kin	Father, J Cusack, Cawongla View, Kyogle, New South Wales
Enlistment date	26 August 1915
Rank on enlistment	Private
Unit name	15th Battalion, 12th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number	23/32/2
Embarkation details	Unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A23 Suffolk on 30 November 1915
Rank from Nominal Roll	Private
Unit from Nominal Roll	4th Trench Mortar Battery
Fate	Returned to Australia 5 April 1918
Date of death	20 March 1940
Place of burial	Kyogle Cemetery

• Henry was born in 1896.  He was the first born child of James Cusack and Hannah Sutton.
• Henry enlisted at the age of 19 with the 12th Reinforcement of the 15th Battalion.
• He saw action in France and was wounded in action in late 1917, with gunshot wounds to his right hip, thigh and knee .
• Henry returned to Australia in early 1918.

William Clive Cusack   (my paternal 2nd cousin 2x removed)

Regimental number	6929
Place of birth	Lismore New South Wales
Religion	Roman Catholic
Occupation	Farm hand
Address	Rock Valley, Queensland
Marital status	Single
Age at embarkation	21
Next of kin	Father, James Cusack, Rock Valley via Lismore, New South Wales
Enlistment date	21 May 1917
Rank on enlistment	Private
Unit name	26th Battalion, 20th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number	23/43/5
Embarkation details	Unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A20 Hororata on 14 June 1917
Rank from Nominal Roll	Private
Unit from Nominal Roll	26th Battalion
Fate	Returned to Australia 1 February 1918

• William was born in 1899.  He was the son of James Cusack and Hannah Sutton.  
• He was the younger brother of Henry (listed above).
• William enlisted at the age of 17, but stated he was 21 on his attestation form.
• He disembarked in Liverpool, England in August 1917 and was then admitted to the Fargo Military Hospital just a few days later diagnosed with influenza.
• William returned to Australia in February 1918.
• He was discharged in May of 1918 as medically unfit, diagnosed with bronchial asthma. 

A great-grandson of my paternal 3x Great Grandparents William Henry Browning and Ann Nancy Littlejohns.

Lewis / Luis Manning Kean    (my paternal 2nd cousin 2x removed)

His name was recorded as "Luis" on his war service record and "Louis" on his war cemetery record.

Regimental number	3391
Place of birth	Manning River, New South Wales
School	State School, Tamworth, New South Wales
Religion	Church of England
Occupation	Labourer
Marital status	Single
Age at embarkation	21
Next of kin	Mother, Mrs. W. Carter, Emmaville, via Deepwater, New South Wales
Enlistment date	10 February 1916
Rank on enlistment	Private
Unit name	31st Battalion, 7th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number	23/48/3
Embarkation details	Unit embarked from Brisbane, Queensland, on board HMAT A49 Seang Choon on 4 May 1916
Rank from Nominal Roll	Private
Unit from Nominal Roll	31st Battalion
Fate	Killed in Action 15 April 1918
Place of death or wounding	France
Age at death	22
Age at death from cemetery records	22
Place of burial	Adelaide Cemetery (Plot III, Row H, Grave No. 18), Villers-Bretonneux, France
Panel number, Roll of Honour,   Australian War Memorial	118
Miscellaneous information from   cemetery records	Parents: Thomas Matthew and Caroline Maria KEAN, One Mile Estate, West Ipswich, Queensland. Native of Manning River, New South Wales
Other details	War service: Western Front Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal

• Luis was born in New South Wales in 1894.   He was the son of Thomas Matthew Kean and Caroline Maria Browning.
• His father had died by the time Luis enlisted and his mother had re-married with the new surname of Carter.
• Luis enlisted at the age of 21.
• His name is spelt in various ways on his war service records - Luis, Lewis - although his signature was always written as "Luis".
• It's interesting to note however that his name was written as "Lewis" by his mother in a letter she sent to Base Records Office in 1919.
• In September of 1917 Luis was hospitalised in England as a result of a severe gunshot wound to his left arm.
• He was killed in action seven months later in 1918 and was buried at Villers-Brettoneux in France.

Five grandsons of my paternal 2x Great Grandparents Henry Johnson Brown and Caroline Penelope Browning.

Sydney Brown   (my paternal 1st cousin 2x removed)

Regimental number	1156
Place of birth	Lismore, New South Wales
Religion	Church of Christ
Occupation	Labourer
Address	Hunter Street, Lismore, New South Wales
Marital status	Single
Age at embarkation	24
Next of kin	Father, Alexander Johnston Brown, Hunter Street, Lismore, New South Wales
Enlistment date	9 April 1916April 9 1915
Rank on enlistment	Private
Unit name	2nd Light Horse Regiment, 8th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number	10/7/2
Embarkation details	Unit embarked from Brisbane, Queensland, on board HMAT A55 Kyarra on 16 August 1915  August 16 1915
Rank from Nominal Roll	Private
Unit from Nominal Roll	25th Battalion
Fate	Returned to Australia 16 December 1917
Date of death	3rd June 19563 June 1956
Place of burial	Ipswich Cemetery

• Sydney was born in 1891.  He was the son of Alexander Johnson Brown (known as Sandy) and Margaret Jane Bustard.  He was the 10th of twelve children born to Alexander and Margaret.  He worked as a horse breaker before enlistment.
• Sydney enlisted in April of 1915 when he was aged 24.  His unit, the 2nd Light Horse Regiment, 8th Reinforcement, embarked from Brisbane in August of 1915.  He fought mostly in France.
• Sadly, Sydney was transferred to Military Hospital in England in October of 1917 because of "shell shock and classified insanity".  He was put on a ship in December of 1917 for return to Australia, identified with "confusional insanity - mental deficiency".  
• Sydney died in 1956 at the age of 65. 

Curtis (Curtess) Brown   (my paternal 1st cousin 2x removed)

Regimental number	1816
Place of birth	Lismore New South Wales
Religion	Church of Christ
Occupation	Labourer
Address	Lismore, New South Wales
Marital status	Single
Age at embarkation	20
Next of kin	Father, A J Brown, Hunter Street, Lismore, New South Wales
Enlistment date	7 January 1916 January 7 1916
Rank on enlistment	Private
Unit name	4th Pioneer Battalion, Reinforcement 2
AWM Embarkation Roll number	14/16/3
Embarkation details	Unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board RMS Mooltan  April 12 1916on 12 April 1916
Rank from Nominal Roll	Private
Unit from Nominal Roll	4th Pioneer Battalion
Fate	Returned to Australia 12 May 1919

• Curtis (Curtess) was born in 1895, the youngest of twelve children born to Alexander Brown and Margaret Bustard, brother to Sydney listed above.  On his birth record, his name was recorded as 'Curtess'.
• He enlisted in January of 1916, aged 20, the year after his older brother Sydney had enlisted.
• Curtis enlisted with the 4th Pioneer Battalion, Reinforcement 2, and served mostly in France.
• Soldiers of the Pioneer Battalions were essentially infantry with light military combat and engineering skills, and were located at the forward edge of the battle area.
• Curtis served until the 4th Pioneer Battalion was disbanded in early 1919.
• He returned home to Australia in May of 1919.
• Curtis re-enlisted for service in WW11.
• He lived until the age of 74, passing in 1970.

Henry Herbert Brown   (my paternal 1st cousin 2x removed)

Regimental number	2021
Place of birth	Lismore New South Wales
Other Names	Henry Herbert
Religion	Presbyterian
Occupation	Labourer
Address	Lismore, New South Wales
Marital status	Married
Age at embarkation	31
Next of kin	Wife, Mrs L Brown, c/o Mrs Hislop, South Lismore, New South Wales
Enlistment date	25 November 1915
Rank on enlistment	Private
Unit name	49th Battalion, 3rd Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number	23/66/3
Embarkation details	Unit embarked from Brisbane, Queensland, on board HMAT A46 Clan Macgillivray on 1 May 1916
Rank from Nominal Roll	Private
Unit from Nominal Roll	41st Battalion
Fate	Returned to Australia 10 September 1917
Other details	War service: Western Front Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal
Date of death	24 December 1949
Age at death	64
Place of burial	Warren Cemetery, New South Wales

• Henry was born in 1883, the third-born of four children born to Henry Johnson Brown Jnr. and Hannah Towns.
• He enlisted with the 9th Battalion, 3rd Reinforcement when he was 31 years old. 
• His unit embarked from Brisbane on May 1st, 1916.
• Henry served on the western front until he was wounded in battle in France in January of 1917. 
• He received a gunshot wound to the left shoulder and was invalided to England aboard the Princess Elizabeth.
• Upon arrival in England he was admitted to hospital at Edmonton.
• He was shipped home in September of 1917.

Leslie Brown  (my paternal 1st cousin 2x removed)

Regimental number	3014
Place of birth	Sydney New South Wales
Religion	Presbyterian
Occupation	Blacksmith
Address	120 Moore Street, Rozelle, New South Wales
Marital status	Single
Age at embarkation	18
Next of kin	Father, F Brown, 106 Mansfield Street, Rozelle, New South Wales
Enlistment date	2 July 1915
Rank on enlistment	Private
Unit name	1st Battalion, 10th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number	23/18/3
Embarkation details	Unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A69 Warilda on 8 October 1915
Rank from Nominal Roll	Private
Unit from Nominal Roll	53rd Battalion
Fate	Returned to Australia 8 April 1917

• Leslie was born in 1897.  He was one of eleven children born to Francis Somers Brown and Selina Jane Cameroux. 
• Leslie enlisted at the age of 18.
• He fought in France until he was wounded in action in August of 1916 with a gunshot wound to the right arm
• He was discharged as medically unfit and returned home in 1917. 

Ernest Brown  (my paternal 1st cousin 2x removed)

Regimental number	3256
Place of birth	Rozelle New South Wales
Religion	Church of England
Occupation	Slaughterman
Address	106 Mansfield Street, Rozelle, Sydney, New South Wales
Marital status	Single
Age at embarkation	21
Next of kin	Mother, Mrs. Brown, 106 Mansfield Street, Rozelle, Sydney, New South Wales
Enlistment date	14 July 1915
Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll	10 July 1915
Rank on enlistment	Private
Unit name	1st Battalion, 11th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number	23/18/3
Embarkation details	Unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A32 Themistocles on 5 October 1915
Rank from Nominal Roll	Private
Unit from Nominal Roll	45th Battalion
Fate	Killed in Action 11 April 1917
Age at death from cemetery records	24
Place of burial	Noreuil Australian Cemetery (Row H, Grave No. 19), France
Panel number, Roll of Honour,   Australian War Memorial	139
Miscellaneous information from   cemetery records	Parents: Francis and Selina BROWN, 6 Bruce Street, Rozelle, New South Wales

• Ernest was born in 1893.  He was also a son of Francis Somers Brown and Selina Jane Cameroux.
• He was an older brother of Leslie, listed above.
• Ernest enlisted just a few days after his younger brother in July of 1915, but embarked for overseas service three days earlier.
• Ernest was killed in action in France in 1917 and was buried at the Noreuil Australian Cemetery.

Robert Henry Johnson Gall    (my paternal 1st cousin 2x removed)

• Robert was born in 1882.  He was the first born son of Robert Gall and Eliza Duncan Brown.
• He enlisted at the age of 33 with the 13th Reinforcement of the 2nd Light Horse Regiment.
• While he was still in training camp, Robert was discharged in January 1916 because of chronic muscular rheumatism of the back muscles.

A son of my paternal 2x Great Grandparents Henry Johnson Brown and Caroline Penelope Browning).

Robert Frederick Bayley Brown  (my paternal great grand-uncle)

Regimental number	1465
Place of birth	Lismore New South Wales
Religion	Presbyterian
Occupation	Draper
Address	c/o Mrs Bottger, Pinkenba, Queensland
Marital status	Widower
Age at embarkation	44
Next of kin	Sister, Mrs Gall, Nimbin via Lismore, New South Wales
Enlistment date	29 December 1914
Rank on enlistment	Private
Unit name	15th Battalion, 3rd Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number	23/32/2
Embarkation details	Unit embarked from Brisbane, Queensland, on board HMAT A49 Seang Choon on 13 February 1915
Rank from Nominal Roll	Private
Unit from Nominal Roll	15th Battalion
Fate	Returned to Australia 11 April 1916

• Robert was born in 1867.  He was the youngest son of Henry Johnson Brown and Caroline Penelope Browning, one of their 12 children.
• Robert enlisted at the age of 47 (not 44 as recorded on his attestation papers) at the end of 1914.
• He disembarked in Egypt in early 1915, where he was put on light duties.
• Robert returned home to Australia in April of 1916 suffering from rheumatism.

Two nephews of my paternal 2x Great Grandparents Henry Johnson Brown and Caroline Penelope Browning.

Jack Browning   (my paternal 1st cousin 3x removed)

Regimental number	25
Place of birth	Lismore, New South Wales
Religion	Church of England
Occupation	Teamster
Address	Blakebrook, Lismore, New South Wales
Marital status	Single
Age at embarkation	26
Next of kin	Mother: Mrs Elizabeth Browning, Blakebrook, Lismore, New South Wales
Enlistment date	16th November, 191516 November 1915
Rank on enlistment	Private
Unit name	42nd Battalion, A Company
AWM Embarkation Roll number	23/59/1
Embarkation details	Unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A30 Borda, June 1916 5 June 1916
Rank from Nominal Roll	Private
Unit from Nominal Roll	42nd Battalion
Other details from Roll of Honour Circular	Enlisted 16 November 1915. Taken on strength, 42nd Bn, 15 April 1916. Wounded, but remained at duty in February 1917 - 5 February 1917 &  9 February 1917
Fate	Killed in Action 8 March 1917
Place of death or wounding	Armentieres, France
Age at death	27
Place of burial	Cite Bonjean Military Cemetery (Plot IV, Row F, Grave No. 7), Armentieres, France
Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial	135
Other details	War service: Western Front Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal

• Jack was born in 1890.  He was the son of Joseph Edward Browning and Elizabeth Wilson.  He worked as a teamster before enlistment.
• Jack embarked from Sydney aboard HMAT A30 Borda in June of 1916, when he was 26 years of age.  He disembarked at Southampton, England in July and proceeded overseas to France in November of 1916.
• Jack was wounded twice in the field in February of 1917, and then sadly he was killed in action on the 8th of March 1917.  He had only been fighting in France for a little over 2 months!
• Jack was buried in the military cemetery at Cite Bonjean in Armentieres, France.

Robert Albert Browning  (my paternal 1st cousin 3x removed)

Regimental number	4039
Place of birth	Lismore New South Wales
Religion	Church of England
Occupation	Carpenter
Address	Goolmangar, New South Wales
Marital status	Married
Age at embarkation	25
Next of kin	Wife, Mrs Pearlie Cornelia Browning, Blakebrook, Lismore, New South Wales
Enlistment date	17 April 191717 April 1917
Rank on enlistment	Private
Unit name	4th Pioneer Battalion, Reinforcement 11
AWM Embarkation Roll number	14/16/3
Embarkation details	Unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A7 Medic on 1 August 1917
Rank from Nominal Roll	Private
Unit from Nominal Roll	4th Pioneer Battalion
Fate	Returned to Australia 31 January 1918

• Robert was born in 1892.  He was also the son of Joseph Edward Browning and Elizabeth Wilson.
• He was 25 when he enlisted in 1917.
• Two months after disembarkation Robert was hospitalised with neurasthenia.
• He was sent home to Australian in January of 1918 and then discharged in May of 1918.

Husband of the granddaughter of my paternal 3x great grandparents James Exton and Susannah Lancaster.

Alexander Reid    (husband of my paternal 1st cousin 3x removed)

Regimental number	154
Place of birth	New Zealand
Religion	Presbyterian
Occupation	Labourer
Address	Bellinudgee, Lismore Line, New South Wales
Marital status	Married
Age at embarkation	24
Next of kin	Wife, Mrs Dolly Jane Reid, Bellinudgee, Lismore Line, New South Wales
Enlistment date	Apr 24 191524 April 1915
Rank on enlistment	Sergeant
Unit name	26th Battalion, B Company
AWM Embarkation Roll number	23/43/1
Embarkation details	Unit embarked from Brisbane, Queensland, on board HMAT A11 Ascanius on 4th of September 191524 May 1915
Regimental number from Nominal Roll	Commissioned
Rank from Nominal Roll	2nd Lieutenant
Unit from Nominal Roll	26th Battalion
Recommendations (Medals and Awards)	Mention in Despatches 'For conspicuous gallantry in patrol work in the vicinity of Butte Warlencourt. On one occasion he climbed an embankment 50 feet high getting within 10 yards of an enemy position.  On the second occasion he made a daylight recognizance at great personal risk bringing back most useful and reliable information  (Later killed by shell just prior to attack on Malt Trench.)'
Fate	Killed in Action 28 February 1917
Age at death from cemetery records	27
Place of burial	No known grave
Commemoration details	Australian National Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, France
Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial	108
Miscellaneous information from cemetery records	Parents: Alexander and Sarah REID; husband of M.J. REID, Church Street, Bellingen, New South Wales

Four great grandsons of my paternal 3x Great Grandparents, James Exton and Susannah Lancaster.

Robert William Lawrence  (my paternal 2nd cousin 2x removed)

Regimental number	2454
Place of birth	Condong, New South Wales
Religion	Church of England
Occupation	Cattle drover
Address	Brisbane, Queensland
Marital status	Single
Age at embarkation	19
Next of kin	Mother: Mrs Mary Lawrence, East Murwillumbah, New South Wales
Enlistment date	Apr 19 1916
Rank on enlistment	Private
Unit name	49th Battalion, 5th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number	23/66/3
Embarkation details	Unit embarked from Brisbane, Queensland, on board HMAT A49 Seang Choon on 19 September 1916
Rank from Nominal Roll	Private
Unit from Nominal Roll	Australian Corps Working Party
Fate Other Details	Returned to Australia 2 January 1919 Termination of period of enlistment War Service:  Western Front, France Medals:  1914-1915 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal

• Robert was born in 1898.  He was the son of William Truckle Lawrence and Mary McDonough and had worked as a cattle drover before he enlisted.
• Robert enlisted about six months after his older brother.
• He embarked aboard HMAT A49 in September of 1916, aged 19.  He served in France and returned to Australia aboard H.M.A.S. Berrima in January of 1919.
• Whilst his period of enlistment had ended, he was listed as being an 'invalid', suffering from the effects of gas.
• He never married.

William Charles Lawrence    (my paternal 2nd cousin 2x removed)

Regimental number	3129
Place of birth	Condong, New South Wales
Religion	Church of England
Occupation	Butcher
Address	Brisbane, Queensland
Marital status	Single
Age at embarkation	19
Next of kin	Mother: Mrs Mary Lawrence, Murwillumbah, New South Wales
Enlistment date	Oct 16 19155 October 1915
	6 October 1915
Rank on enlistment	Private
Unit name	25th Battalion, 7th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number	23/42/2
Embarkation details	Unit embarked from Brisbane, Queensland, on board HMAT A50 Itonus on 30 December 1915
Rank from Nominal Roll	Corporal
Unit from Nominal Roll	25th Battalion
Fate	Killed in Action 16 January, 1917
Place of burial Commemoration Details Panel Number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial Other Details	No known grave Australian National Memorial, Villers-Brettoneux, France 105 War Service: Western Front, France Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal

• William was born in 1896, the son of William Truckle Lawrence and Mary McDonough.  He had worked as a butcher before he enlisted in 1915.
• He embarked aboard HMAT A50 Itonus at the end of 1915 and served in France with the 25th Battalion.
• In November of 1916 he was promoted to Temporary Corporal, but sadly, a mere two months later, William was reported as 'missing in action' in January of 1917.  A court of inquiry listed him as 'killed in action' in July of the same year.  There was no listed place of burial.
• William's name is listed on the Villers-Brettoneux Memorial in France.

Robert James Dooley   (my paternal 2nd cousin 2x removed)

Regimental number	5569
Place of birth	Bangalow New South Wales
Religion	Roman Catholic
Occupation	Buttermaker
Address	Lismore, New South Wales
Marital status	Single
Age at embarkation	19
Next of kin	Father, James Dooley, Carlyle Street, Byron Bay, New South Wales
Enlistment date	1 April 1916
Rank on enlistment	Private
Unit name	25th Battalion, 15th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number	23/42/4
Embarkation details	Unit embarked from Brisbane, Queensland, on board HMAT A46 Clan Macgillivray on 7 September 1916
Rank from Nominal Roll	Private
Unit from Nominal Roll	25th Battalion
Fate	Returned to Australia 15 February 1918
Miscellaneous information from   cemetery records	Plaque in New South Wales Garden of Remembrance
Date of death	13 November 1974

• Robert was born in 1896.  He was the oldest son of James Dooley and Mary Ann Matilda King.
• He enlisted at the age of 19 with the 25th Battalion and served in France.
• In September of 1917 Robert was wounded in action receiving gun shot wounds to the right arm and right leg.
• He was evacuated to the Graylingwell War Hospital at Chichester in England.
• Robert returned home to Australia in February of 1918.
• He was discharged as medically unfit in June of 1918.
• Robert went on to re-enlist in WW11.

Charles Barrow  (my paternal 2nd cousin 2x removed)

Regimental number	578
Place of birth	Lismore New South Wales
Religion	Church of England
Occupation	Dairy farmer
Address	Horseshoe Creek, Kyogle, New South Wales
Marital status	Single
Age at embarkation	28
Next of kin	Mother, H Barrow, Horseshoe Creek, Kyogle, New South Wales
Enlistment date	Nov 14 19144 November 1914
Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll	4 November 1914
Rank on enlistment	Driver
Unit name	5th Light Horse Regiment, Headquarters
AWM Embarkation Roll number	10/10/1
Embarkation details	Unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board TRANSPORT A34 Persic on 21 December 1914
Fate	Returned to Australia 15 November 1918

• Charles was born in 1886.  He was the son of Alfred Barrow and Harriet Clarke.
• He enlisted at the age of 28 as a driver with the 5th Light Horse Regiment.
• Charles saw active service in Egypt and Palestine.
• He returned to Australia four years after he had enlisted.
• Charles went on to serve in WW2 as well.  He served with a Garrison Unit.

A great grandson of my paternal 3x Great Grandparents James Hukins and Susannah Fullagar.

Hollis Roy Dawes  (my paternal 2nd cousin 2x removed)

Regimental number	4499
Place of birth	Albion Park, New South Wales
School	Avondale Public School, New South Wales
Religion	Presbyterian
Occupation	Carpenter
Address	Avondale, New South Wales
Marital status	Single
Age at embarkation	23
Next of kin	Mother, Mrs M Dawes, Post Office, Dapto, New South Wales
Enlistment date	Aug 16 1915
Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll	Aug 31 191531 August 1915
Rank on enlistment	Private
Unit name	1st Battalion, 14th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number	23/18/4
Embarkation details	Unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board RMS Osterley on 15 Jan 191615 January 1916
Rank from Nominal Roll	Corporal
Unit from Nominal Roll	45th Battalion
Fate	Killed in Action 11 April 1917
Place of death or wounding	Bullecourt, France
Age at death	25
Age at death from cemetery records	25
Place of burial	Vraucourt Copse Cemetery (Plot III, Row B, Grave No. 4), France
Panel number, Roll of Honour,   Australian War Memorial	139
Miscellaneous information from   cemetery records	Parents: Caleb and Mary Ann DAWES, Dapto, New South Wales
Family/military connections	Brother: 2167 Pte Walter Leslie DAWES, 11th Bn, returned to Australia, 4 January 1919.
Other details	War service: Western Front Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal

A nephew of my paternal 2x Great Grandparents Thomas Connors and Susannah Hukins.

Frederick George Coombes  (my paternal 1st cousin 2x removed)

Regimental number	2578
Place of birth	Camperdown, New South Wales
Religion	Roman Catholic
Occupation	Carter
Address	Oakura Street, Rockdale, New South Wales
Marital status	Single
Age at embarkation	22
Next of kin	Father: F J Coombes, Oakura Street, Rockdale,  New South Wales
Enlistment date	Jun 13 191513 June 1915
Rank on enlistment	Private
Unit name	4th Battalion, 8th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number	23/21/2
Embarkation details	Unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A54 Runic on 9 August 1915
Rank from Nominal Roll	Gunner
Unit from Nominal Roll	13th Field Artillery Brigade
Fate Other Details	Returned to Australia 31 October 1917 Discharged because of deficient hearing War Service:  Western Front, France Medals:  1914-1915 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal

• Frederick was born in 1893.  He was the son of Francis Coombes and Bridget Ellen Connors.
• He embarked from Sydney aboard HMAT A54 Runic on the 9th of August 1915 when Frederick was aged 22.  He was transferred to the 56th Battalion in February 1916 based at Tel-el-Kabir, then the 13th F.A. Brigade in March 1916 in France, then the 5th D.A.C. two months later as a 'mustered gunner', and finally to the 13th F.A.B. in April of 1917.
• He served in France.  He returned to Australia aboard H.M.A.S. Berrima, discharged in October of 1917 with 'deficient hearing'.
• Frederick died in 1950 at the age of 56.  His occupation at the time was 'glass worker'.

Three sons of James Cusack, my paternal Grandmother Grace Connors nee Brown's uncle. 

Ernest Thomas Stanley Cusack  (my paternal 1st cousin 2x removed)

Regimental number	508
Place of birth	Byron Bay, New South Wales
Religion	Presbyterian
Occupation	Labourer
Address	Byron Bay PO, Byron Bay, New South Wales
Marital status	Single
Age at embarkation	19
Next of kin	Mother, Mrs Mary Ann Cusack, Byron Bay PO, Byron Bay, New South Wales
Enlistment date	15 June 1916
Rank on enlistment	Private
Unit name	Machine Gun Company 15, Reinforcement 8
AWM Embarkation Roll number	24/20/3
Embarkation details	Unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A34 Persic on 22 December 1916
Other details from Roll of Honour Circular	Died Military Hospital, London, England.
Fate	Died of disease (Influenza) 3 March 1919
Age at death	21.7
Age at death from cemetery records	21
Place of burial	Brookwood Military Cemetery (Plot IV, Row J, Grave No. 7), Surrey, England
Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial	176
Miscellaneous information from cemetery records	Parents: James and Mary CUSACK, Byron Bay, New South Wales

• Ernest was born in 1897.  His father was James Cusack and his mother was Mary Ann Davies.
• Ernest's unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria on board HMAS A34 Persic on December 22nd, 1916.  
• He served in France.
• Ernest was wounded in September of 1917 with a "shell wound to the chin".
• He died in a military hospital in London, England.  Ernest had been on leave and had contracted influenza.
• His headstone reads: "Though lost to sight to memory ever dear"

Harold John Charles Cusack   (my paternal 1st cousin 2x removed)

Regimental number	3721
Religion	Roman Catholic
Occupation	Plumber
Address	Byron Bay, New South Wales
Marital status	Single
Age at embarkation	20
Next of kin	Mother, Mrs M A Cusack, Byron Bay, New South Wales
Enlistment date	10 August 1915
Rank on enlistment	Private
Unit name	15th Battalion, 12th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number	23/32/2
Embarkation details	Unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A23 Suffolk on 30 November 1915
Rank from Nominal Roll	Private
Unit from Nominal Roll	15th Battalion
Fate	Returned to Australia 12 April 1916

• Harold as born in 1895.  His father was James Cusack and his mother was Mary Ann Davies.
• Harold embarked from Sydney, New South Wales on board HMAT A23 Suffolk on November the 30th 1915.
• He made it to a training camp in Egypt but did not join in the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force as he fell ill with acute appendicitis in March of 1916.  
• He was discharged as medically unfit and sent home to Australia the following month.

James Herbert Cusack    (my paternal 1st cousin 2x removed)

Regimental number	6064
Place of birth	Blakebrook New South Wales
Religion	Church of England
Occupation	Labourer
Address	Byron Bay, New South Wales
Marital status	Single
Age at embarkation	27
Next of kin	Mother, Mrs Mary Ann Cusack, Byron Bay, New South Wales
Enlistment date	9 August 1916
Rank on enlistment	Private
Unit name	25th Battalion, 17th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number	23/42/5
Embarkation details	Unit embarked from Brisbane, Queensland, on board HMAT A75 Marathon on 27 October 1916
Rank from Nominal Roll	Private
Unit from Nominal Roll	9th Battalion
Fate	Returned to Australia 8 August 1919
Other details	War service: Western Front Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal

• James was born in 1889.  His father was James Cusack and his mother was Mary Ann Davies.
• He embarked on board the HMAT A75 Marathon in October of 1916. James served in France. He was wounded in action in July of 1918.
• The following year, James married Edith Grinstead in London in May 1919. 
• He returned home in August of 1919.

Three sons of my maternal Great Great Grandparents, Michael Farrell and Susan Downey/Muldowney. 

  Patrick Joseph Farrell  (my maternal 2nd great uncle)

Regimental number	6550
Place of birth	Durham, England
School	St Joseph's, West Stanley, County Durham, England
Age on arrival in Australia	12
Religion	Roman Catholic
Occupation	Ironmoulder
Address	Bundaberg, Queensland
Marital status	Single
Age at embarkation	39
Next of kin	Mother, Mrs S Farrell, Bridge Street, Charters Towers, Queensland
Enlistment date	17 November 1916
Rank on enlistment	Private
Unit name	25th Battalion, 19th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number	23/42/6
Embarkation details	Unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A18 Wiltshire on 7 February 1917
Rank from Nominal Roll	Private
Unit from Nominal Roll	25th Battalion
Fate	Killed in Action 20 September 1917
Place of death or wounding	Polygon Wood, Belgium
Age at death	39
Age at death from cemetery records	39
Place of burial	No known grave
Commemoration details	The Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial (Panel 23), Belgium
Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial	104
Miscellaneous information from cemetery records	Parents: Michael and Susan FARRELL. Native of Co. Durham, England
Other details	War service: Western Front Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal

• Patrick was born in 1878 in England.  He was the son of Michael Farrell and Susan Muldowney.  The family emigrated from England to Australia when Patrick was 8 years old.
• Patrick embarked from Sydney in February of 1917.  He served in France and Belgium.
• Patrick was killed in action in late 1917 in the area of the Polygon Wood in Belgium.  
• His name is inscribed on the Menin Gate Memorial at Ypres in Belgium.

  Matthew Felix Farrell   (my maternal 2nd great uncle)

Regimental number	6486
Place of birth	West Stanley England
Religion	Roman Catholic
Occupation	Hairdresser
Address	Bridge Street, Charters Towers, Queensland
Marital status	Single
Age at embarkation	29
Next of kin	Father, Mr M Farrell, Bridge Street, Charter's Towers, Queensland
Enlistment date	10 July 1916
Rank on enlistment	Private
Unit name	9th Battalion, 21st Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number	23/26/4
Embarkation details	Unit embarked from Brisbane, Queensland, on board HMAT A36 Boonah on 21 October 1916
Rank from Nominal Roll	Private
Unit from Nominal Roll	9th Battalion
Fate	Returned to Australia 5 April 1918

• Matthew was born in 1887, in England.  He was the son of Michael Farrell and Susan Muldowney.  The family emigrated from England to Australia when Michael was just a few months old.
• Matthew was working on a station named Bluff Downs, near Charters Towers, when he enlisted.  He embarked from Brisbane in 1916.
• Matthew served in France and Belgium.  
• He somehow fractured both bones in his right leg in October 1917, and was sent home in early 1918.

  James Farrell     (my maternal 2nd great uncle)

Regimental number	22
Religion	Roman Catholic
Occupation	Hairdresser
Address	Brisbane, Queensland
Marital status	Married
Age at embarkation	34
Next of kin	Wife, Mrs Minnie Farrell, Camden Street, Albion, Brisbane, Queensland
Enlistment date	4 January 1916
Rank on enlistment	Private
Unit name	Brigade 11, Headquarters
AWM Embarkation Roll number	23/11/1
Embarkation details	Unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A64 Demosthenes on 18 May 1916
Rank from Nominal Roll	Private
Unit from Nominal Roll	42nd Battalion
Fate	Returned to Australia 15 April 1918

• James was born in 1880, in England.  He was the son of Michael Farrell and Susan Muldowney. The family emigrated from England to Australia when James was 6 years old.
• He embarked from Sydney in 1916 and fought in France.
• In November of 1917 he was sent to a hospital in England suffering from Nephritis, which is apparently an inflammation of the kidneys which causes impaired kidney function.  
• He was returned home to Australia in early 1918.

Two sons of my paternal 2x Great Grandparents, Thomas Connors, and Susannah Hukins.

   Erice Sylvester Connors   (my paternal great uncle)

Regimental number	4474
Place of birth	Berry, New South Wales
Religion	Roman Catholic
Occupation	Carter
Address	Gotha Street, Valley, Brisbane, Queensland
Marital status	Single
Age at embarkation	23
Next of kin	Sister, Mrs E Bates, 76 Gotha Street, Valley, Brisbane, Queensland
Enlistment date	28 September 1915
Rank on enlistment	Private
Unit name	9th Battalion, 14th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number	23/26/4
Embarkation details	Unit embarked from Brisbane, Queensland, on board HMAT A62 Wandilla on 31 January 1916
Rank from Nominal Roll	Gunner
Unit from Nominal Roll	11th Field Artillery Brigade
Other details from Roll of Honour	Enlisted 28 September 1915 - 14th Rfcts. 9 Bn. TOS 11 FAS 17 June 1916
Fate	Killed in Action 30 December 1916
Place of death or wounding	Somme, France
Age at death	24
Place of burial	No known grave
Commemoration details	Australian National Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, France
Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial	16
Family/military connections	Brother: 639 WO II Cyril Ernest CONNORS, 6th Light Horse Regiment, returned to Australia, 15 November 1918.
Other details	War service: Western Front Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal

• Erice was born in 1892 in New South Wales.  He was the son of Thomas Connors and Susannah Hukins.
• Erice embarked from Brisbane in early 1916.  He served in France, initially as a gunner with the 43rd Battery of 11th FAB.  Then in mid 1916 he was transferred to 11th FAB HQ as a signaller, responsible for communications with the Brigade.
• By December of 1916, Erice was in the area of Flers in The Somme.  On the 30th of December, at 4.00 pm a shell hit one of the HQ dugouts.  Erice was killed instantaneously.  
• His place of burial is unknown.
• Erice's name is listed on the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial in France.

   Cyril Ernest Connors   (my paternal great uncle)

Regimental number	639
Date of birth	23 April 1890
Place of birth	Berry, New South Wales
Enlistment date	1 October 1914
Rank from Nominal Roll	Warrant Officer II
Unit from Nominal Roll	6th Light Horse Regiment
Fate	Returned to Australia 15 November 1918
Family/military connections	Brother: 4474 Gunner Erice Sylvester CONNORS, 11th Field Artillery Brigade, killed in action, 30 December 1916.
Other details	Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal Also served in World War II: enlisted Adamstown, New South Wales, 19 January 1942; died, N393474 Pte HQ, Volunteer Defence Corps, New South Wales, 18 June 1942.
Date of death	18 June 1942
Age at death	52
Embarkation Details	Eventually his name was found on the embarkation roll for December 1914.  Unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales on board HMAT A29 Suevic 21

• Cyril was born in 1888 in New South Wales.  His father was Thomas Connors and his mother was Susannah Hukins.
• Cyril embarked in late 1914 with the 6th Australian Light Horse Regiment. 
• He spent time in Egypt before arriving at Gallipoli on the 20th of May 1915.  He became ill with influenza in in October 1915 and was evacuated to Malta.  
• He spent six months there and then returned to Egypt where he joined the Imperial Camel Corps and rose to the rank of Company Quarter Master Sergeant.  This unit saw some heavy fighting. He was wounded several times.
• In 1918 the Camel Corps was disbanded and he transferred back to the Light Horse.
• He returned to Australia on leave in November 1918 just as the war was ending.

(Cyril also enlisted in the Second World War in January 1942 and was attached to the Camp Staff at Raymond Terrace.)  

Extra note:  I'm joining Amy Johnson Crow's 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks project / challenge.

The prompt for Week 21 is 'Military'.

You can join by blogging or posting on social media with the tag #52ancestors.

Check out this FB page:  Amy Johnson Crow