Canada. A Pair to Acting Corporal Cumming, 2nd CMR, Gassed during the Battle of the Canal du Nord

British War Medal (226072 A. CPL. J.J. CUMMING. C.M.G. BDE.); and Victory Medal (226072 A. CPL. J.J. CUMMING. C.M.G. BDE.). Naming is officially impressed. Un-mounted, bruised, contact marks, replacement ribbons, very fine.

 

Footnote: John James Cumming was born on June 4, 1891 in Keith, Banffshire, Scotland. He was a resident of Detroit, Michigan when he signed his Attestation Paper as a Private (226072) with the Depot Regiment, Canadian Mounter Rifles in Windsor, Ontario, on October 23, 1915, at the age of 24, naming his next-of-kin as his father, John Cumming of Keith, stating that he had no previous military service, that he was not married, that his religion was Presbyterian and that his trade was that of Mechanic (later defined as Foreman, Motor Mechanic). He was taken on strength at Shorncliffe on April 12, 1916, followed by his transfer two months later to the 2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles on June 12th. Private Cumming proceeded overseas for service in the French theatre, arriving at the Base Depot in France on July 6th. He was assigned to the 1st Canadian Motor Machine Gun Battery, leaving for his new unit on July 7th, arriving with them in the field on the 10th. Private Cumming was at Ypres when he suffered a dislocated arm, which was later determined to be a dislocated elbow. He was admitted to No. 17 Casualty Clearing Station on August 22, 1916, then transferred to No. 21 Ambulance Train. on the 23rd. He was subsequently invalided to England, where he was admitted to the City of London Military Hospital at Clapton, N.E. on August 27th. After five and a half weeks' treatment, he was transferred to the Canadian Convalescent Hospital at Bromley, Kent on October 4th and discharged six days later, on October 10th. He was admitted to the Brigade Hospital at Crowborough, at the Canadian Machine Gun Depot on November 2, 1916, with a "Debility", possibly related to the dislocated elbow, and after two weeks there, he was discharged on the 15th. Cumming was appointed Acting Corporal on January 16, 1917. While on furlough at Keith, Banffshire, Scotland in early March 1917, Cumming reported sick, with "pains in his knee and general debility". He was initially treated at the Volunteer Aid Detachment (VAD) Hospital at Keith, where he was diagnosed with "Bronchitis" and "Synovitis" of the Knee (a condition where the synovial membrane, which lines and lubricates the knee joint, becomes inflamed). He was transferred and admitted to the 1st Scottish General Hospital at Aberdeen on March 5th, where he would remain for three weeks, before being transferred to King's Canadian Red Cross Convalescent Hospital at Bushy Park on March 27th. His recovery would continue at Summerdown Convalescent Home at Eastbourne as of April 1st, entailing another six and a half weeks, before he was transferred to the Canadian Military Hospital at Eastbourne on May 16th. After almost four weeks recuperation at the Canadian Military Hospital, he was discharged on June 11th. Acting Corporal Cumming was hospitalized a third time, as he was admitted to Cherryhinton Military Hospital at Cambridge on October 3, 1917, diagnosed with "V.D.G." (venereal disease, gonorrhea). After three months' treatment, he was discharged from hospital on January 1, 1918, then struck off strength to the Canadian Machine Gun Depot, and it was here that he reverted to the rank of Private on January 8th. Private Cumming was struck off strength of the Canadian Machine Gun Depot on transfer to the 3rd Reserve Battalion on March 8, 1918, then transferred two months later to the 2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles on May 1st. Private Cumming was in action during the Battle of the Canal du Nord, when he suffered a Gas Shell Poisoning on September 30, 1918. He was admitted the same day to No. 4 General Hospital Dannes at Camiers and was subsequently evacuated to England.

 

He was initially admitted to Fort Pitt Military Hospital at Chatham on October 5th, then transferred to Glovers Volunteer Aid Detachment (VAD) Hospital at Sittingbourne. He was transferred and admitted to the Canadian Convalescent Hospital at Woodcote Park, Epsom on October 31st. It was at Woodcote Park that his condition was assessed on November 1st, the doctor stating that Cumming "Complains of pain over (the) heart, shortness of breath, slight diminished breathing over (the) right lung, whole area, also dullness". He was re-assessed on November 18th, the doctor noting that the "Chest (is) Clear. No disability." He was discharged from hospital on November 27th, then posted to the 3rd Reserve Battalion. Four months after his discharge from hospital, he was taken on strength from the 3rd Reserve Battalion and placed on command at Ripon on April 1, 1919, pending his discharge in the United Kingdom. Acting Corporal John James Cumming was discharged at No. 2 Canadian Discharge Depot in England on April 15, 1919, credited with having served in Canada, England, France and Belgium. For his First World War service, he was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. In his Military Will, dated July 3, 1916, he stated that "In the event of my death, I give the whole of my property and effects to my father, Mr. John Cumming, 106 Moss St. Keith, Banffshire, Scotland." In a second Will, dated three months after the first Will, on October 12, 1916, he stated that "I bequeath all my personal estate to my father, John Cumming, 106 Moss Street, Keith, Banffshire, Scotland". The Wills of course were never executed, as he survived the war.