KIA

Charles was born in Bacchus Marsh, VIC in 1873 to Charles Cumming and Barbara Walker - he was one of many children, all born in Bacchus Marsh. Charles had two brothers, Athol and Norman (died of wounds), who are also remembered in the Avenue.

Charles was a farmer when he enlisted in the AIF on the 12^th of July 1915, aged 42. He embarked aboard the HMAT A7 Medic in May 1916 with the 8^th Australian Field Artillery Brigade, 32^nd Battery.

In July 1916 Charles disembarked at Plymouth, England - some time after this the artillery brigades were reorganised and the 32^nd Battery became the 108^th Howitzer Battery. He was promoted to acting Bombardier in October and immediately proceeded to France.

On the 6^th of June 1917 Charles was killed in action.

He with quite a number of other fellows had been ordered to proceed to a field, some three or four hundred yards away from the position we then held, to remove some camouflage coverings from some evacuated gun positions ... work had hardly commenced ere a 4.2. shell from the enemy (quite what we term stray one since matters had been fairly quite before - and nothing further came along after) exploded with terrific force right in the centre of one of our parties, killing three men outright, one of whom was the above soldier mentioned.

Source: Red Cross Wounded & Missing - Sergeant Denton

Charles was buried the next day at the Strand Military Cemetery, Belgium.

He is listed on the Shire of Bacchus Marsh Roll of Honour, the Bacchus Marsh & District Roll of Honour, the Roll of Honour for pupils of Parwan State School and the Roll of Honour of S^t. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Bacchus Marsh.

Notes

1. More correctly he was an acting Bombardier - equivalent to a Corporal.