Canada. A Group to Lieutenant Archibald Robert Cumming, Canadian Field Artillery

British War Medal (LIEUT. A.R. CUMMING.); Victory Medal (LIEUT. A.R. CUMMING.); Canadian Volunteer Service Medal; and War Medal 1939-1945. Naming is officially impressed on the First War pair, the Second War pair are un-named as issued. Court-mounted, dark patinas on the three silver medals, spotting on the VM, adhesive pads on the reverse of each medal, original ribbons, dual push pins on the reverse, very fine.

 

Footnote: Archibald Robert Cumming was born on December 11, 1891 in Campbellford, Ontario, the son of Walter William Cumming on Elizabeth Dinwoodie Cumming. He signed his first Officers' Declaration Paper as a Lieutenant with the 75th Depot Battery, on May 25, 1916 in Kingston, Ontario, at the age of 24, naming his next-of-kin as his wife, Norma Frances Cumming of Toronto, stating that he was with an Active Militia, the 24th Battery, Canadian Field Artillery, that his religion was Presbyterian and that his trade was that of Engineer. Twenty-four days later, he signed his second Officers' Declaration Paper as a Lieutenant with the 75th Depot Battery, on June 18, 1916 in Kingston, Ontario, at the age of 24, naming his next-of-kin as his mother, Elizabeth Cumming of Toronto, stating that he was with an Active Militia, the 24th Battery, Canadian Field Artillery, that his religion was Presbyterian and that his trade was that of Mining Engineer. He was briefly hospitalized at Petawawa on September 8, 1916, but no reason for his admission is stated in his records. Lieutenant Cumming embarked Halifax, Nova Scotia on November 1, 1916, arriving in Liverpool, England on the 11th. Nine days after arriving in England, he was attached to the Reserve Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery at Shorncliffe, on November 20, 1916. He was admitted to West Cliff Canadian Eye and Ear Hospital at Folkestone, on January 15, 1917 with a case of "Tonsillitis". His tonsils were removed and the throat healed after ten days, allowing him to be discharged on the 25th, the attending physician recommending that he take three weeks' leave. He was transferred to the 3rd Brigade, CRA on June 22, 1917, then placed on command to Larkhill on July 8th for one month, before returning to the CRA on August 9th. He was placed on command to London for a Camouflage Course, from September 3 to 4, 1917.

 

Twelve days after finishing his course, Lieutenant Cumming was drafted to the 4th Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery, Canadian Divisional Ammunition Column, for service in the French theatre, on September 16, 1917, arriving at the Canadian Corps Reinforcement Camp in France on September 23, 1917, and joining his unit the same day. He was attached to the Special Works Park for a Camouflage Course from November 9 to 16, 1917. Lieutenant Cumming was accepted for employment with the Royal Air Force as an Observer on probation, on July 16, 1918. He was then detached to the Canadian Artillery Regimental Depot at Witley, on proceeding to England for duty with the Home Establishment, Royal Air Force, on July 28th and posted to the Canadian Artillery Regimental Depot on August 21st. In the Spring of 1919, Lieutenant was admitted to Grove Military Hospital at Tooting Grove on April 1, 1919, initially diagnosed "N.Y.D." (Not Yet Determined). After forty-five days at Tooting Grove, he was discharged on May 16th, at which point, he was transferred and admitted to Granville Canadian Special Hospital at Buxton on May 17th. It was here that he received an official diagnosis of "V.D.G." (venereal disease, gonorrhea) and would remain at Buxton until the 31st. He was admitted to No. 12 Canadian General Hospital at Bramshott, Ward 12, on June 10, 1919. The attending physician noted that Cumming had suffered his first attack in April 1917 and had an "on and off discharge", with an "enlarged prostate" and performed "massage" to relieve the issue. He was transferred and admitted to Bramshott Military Hospital on July 2, 1919 for one week, before being transferred and admitted to No. 16 Canadian General Hospital at Orpington on July 10, 1919. His stay at Orpington would entail six weeks, before being discharged from hospitalization on August 20th. Lieutenant Cumming was posted to "M" Wing at Witley for return to Canada on August 25, 1919. It was here at Witley on August 29th that he was acknowledged to have a "concussion", along with "deafness" but was deemed "Fit for General Service". He was struck off strength of the Overseas Military Forces of Canada, on proceeding to Canada on September 6, 1919 aboard the Atlantic Transport Line's S.S. Minnekahda, embarking Tilbury, England and arriving in Halifax on the 14th. Lieutenant Archibald Robert Cumming, Canadian Field Artillery was taken on strength at Military District No. 6 in Halifax and discharged upon general demobilization on September 18, 1919, credited with having served in Canada, England and France, with the 75th Battery, 2nd Brigade, Canadian Reserve Artillery, the 4th Canadian Divisional Ammunition Column, the 4th Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery, the Canadian Artillery Regimental Depot and detailed for duty with the Royal Air Force. For his First World War service, he was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal and was paid a War Service Gratuity of $224.00. Cumming also served in the home theatre during the Second World War and for his service, was awarded the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and the War Medal 1939-1945. He died on October 26, 1960, at the age of 68.