Derwas Goring Charles "Dave" Cumming (29 September 1891 – 3 May 1918) was an Australian rules footballer and soldier who was killed in the First World War.
Born in Millicent, South Australia, Cumming moved to Western Australia with his family at an early age. He made his senior debut for the Perth Football Club in the West Australian Football League (WAFL) at the age of 15, while still a high school student. In 1911, Cumming moved to Melbourne to attend the University of Melbourne, playing two seasons for the University Football Club in the Victorian Football League (VFL). He then returned to Perth and played one final WAFL season in 1914. Cumming enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force the same year, and served in the Gallipoli Campaign and on the Western Front. He was awarded the Military Cross in 1917, and received a bar the following year. He died of wounds after the Second Battle of Villers-Bretonneux.
Early life Family Cumming was born in Millicent, South Australia, on 29 September 1891, the second of five children born to Catherine Frances Henrietta (née Jones),Thrilling Pioneering: Early Days in South-East: Chat with Mrs. Kate Cumming, The (Adelaide) Register, (Wednesday, 28 April 1926), p.12. and Charles Walter Cumming.Derwas Goring Charles Cumming – GENi. Retrieved 5 April 2012. Both his parents were of English origin.THRILLING PIONEERING. Originally published in The Register, 28 April 1926. Retrieved 5 April 2012.
Cumming's uncle, Brigadier General Michael Derwas Goring-Jones, CMG, DSO, died as a consequence of poison gas in May 1919."[...] also May 1919, his uncle, Brigadier General Michael Derwas Goring Jones, C.M.G., D.S.O., the result of gas on the Somme." Family Notices – The West Australian. Published 5 May 1921. Retrieved 7 April 2012, from Trove.Durham at War: Michael Derwas Goring-Jones (1866-1919).
Cumming's older brother, Redmond Harry Owen Cumming, had been taken as a prisoner of war in April 1917.World War I Service Records: Captain Redmond Harry Owen Cumming.The Brave Pioneers: The Old Spirit Remains: Descendants in the War, The (Adelaide) Express and Telegraph, (Thursday, 11 June 1919), p.1. Unable to cope with his wartime experiences, he poisoned himself in March 1922,See: Department of Repatriation Records: Captain Redmond Harry Owen Cumming. two months before the birth of a daughter.Births: Cumming, The Western Mail, (Thursday, 25 May 1922), p.19.
Education At a young age, his family returned to Perth, Western Australia (Charles Cumming's hometown). There, he attended the Christian Brothers' College on St Georges Terrace, serving as a prefect in 1909. According to The West Australian, Cumming was "one of the best known and most popular of the boys attending the secondary schools of Western Australia"."Captain Cumming was one of the best known and most popular of the boys attending the secondary schools of Western Australia. He was a good athlete, and a natural leader." DEATH OF CAPTAIN DERWAS CUMMING. – The West Australian. Published 21 May 1918. Retrieved 6 April 2012, from Trove.
At school, he excelled at both cricket and football, captaining the college's cricket team in 1909."Mr. Derwas Cumming, the captain of the College Cricket Club, and one of the prefects of the school, on behalf of the teachers and students, then presented Lady Bedford with a handsome silver-mounted toilet case [...]" CHRISTIAN BROTHERS' COLLEGE. – The Western Mail. Published 10 April 1909. Retrieved 6 April 2012, from Trove. The following year, he was named Champion Athlete at the combined athletics carnival of the Public Schools Association,"Christian Brothers' College were also represented by the most successful athlete in Cumming, who, it may be stated in passing, is a prominent League foot-baller." SECONDARY SCHOOLS' SPORTS – The Western Mail. Published 10 December 1910. Retrieved 6 April 2012, from Trove. after winning the 100-yard race, 220-yard race, the 440-yard race, the 120-yard hurdles, the high jump, and the long jump.SECONDARY SCHOOLS' SPORTS – The West Australian. Published 27 October 1910. Retrieved 6 April 2012, from Trove.
Football career Perth (WAFL) While playing for the school football team, Cumming caught the eye of recruiters from the Perth Football Club in the West Australian Football League (WAFL), and subsequently made his debut against on 22 June 1907."It was the first appearance of Cumming, who hails from the Christian Brothers' College [...]" EAST PERTH V. PERTH – The West Australian. Published 24 June 1907. Retrieved 6 April 2012, from Trove.
Cumming did not play in Perth's grand final over in September 1907, in which they recorded their first premiership, but did play in the losing grand finals in 1908 and 1909.THE FINAL MATCH – The Daily News. Published 26 September 1908. Retrieved 7 April 2012, from Trove.
He was aged 15 years and 273 days on his debut, making him one of only four people confirmed to have played senior WAFL football before their sixteenth birthday, along with Stan Hussey, Anthony Forrest, and Stan Magro.Greg Wardell-Johnson and Steve Davies. "Youngest WAFL footballers" In 1941, when asked to rank Perth Football Club champion players over the preceding 30 years, "[club stalwart, Roy] White chose Derwas Cumming as Perth's best half-forward. He was a great footballer at Christian Brothers' College, and while still at school played for Perth. Even at that age he distinguished himself. Unfortunately, he was one who left the playing field for the battle field and was killed." Western Mail, Thursday, 7 August 1941.Ranking List: Perth Champions Recalled, The Western Mail, p.40.
University (VFL) After graduating from Christian Brothers' College in 1910, he left Western Australia to attend Trinity College at the University of Melbourne. While at the university, Cumming played a number for the University Football Club in the Victorian Football League (VFL), during which time he was generally referred to by his nickname, "Dave".Holmesby, Russell & Main, Jim (2007). The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers. 7th ed. Melbourne: Bas Publishing.
He played a total of 21 games for the club,The University Team, The Leader, (Saturday, 4 May 1912), p.29. kicking 34 goals, before returning to Perth after the completion of his degree.Dave Cumming – AFLTables. Retrieved 7 April 2012. Cumming's best performance for University was five goals against in the last match of the 1911 season, out of only seven goals for the team.University v Geelong, Sat, 2-Sep-1911 3:00 PM – AFL Tables. Retrieved 4 August 2015. He finished the 1912 season with 17 goals from 10 games, second only to Bert Hartkopf for the club. This included two goals in University's round-three defeat of , the only win of Cumming's VFL career.1911 Player Stats: University – AFL Tables. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
Military career and death Working for a time at Yalkin, his mother's farm at Doodlakine, Cumming enlisted in the Australian Army in September 1914.Info 3f, Derwas Cumming – JCC Glass. Retrieved 7 April 2012.
He left Australia on the transport ship Medic in November 1914 as a private in the 1st Divisional Ammunition Column, but transferred to the 16th Battalion in October 1915, where he served in the Gallipoli Campaign. Cumming transferred to the 48th Battalion in March 1916, as a second lieutenant, and was sent to serve on the Western Front with his unit.A Letter from France, The Saturday Record, (Saturday, 2 September 1916), p.12. He was wounded in action at the Battle of Pozières, which necessitated a period of recovery in England, but was promoted to the rank of lieutenant before his return to France.Copy of Attestation Paper – National Archives. Retrieved 7 April 2012.
Cumming was again promoted, to captain, in April 1917, and in June of the same year was awarded the Military Cross for "conspicuous gallantry and ability in handling two companies of his Battalion participating in the attack", which occurred during "operations for capture of objective east of Messines on June 7th to 9th 1917." It was also noted: "[t]his officer's quick appreciation of the situation and prompt and effective action was greatly responsible for the consolidation and final success."Derwas Goring Charles CUMMING – The AIF Project. Retrieved 7 April 2012. He was also recommended for the Distinguished Service Order, but did not receive the award, possibly due to his rank.
In April 1918, Cumming received a Bar to the Military Cross, for "conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in command of a flank company". He had "repeatedly repulsed" the enemy, then "protected the left, bringing very heavy fire onto the enemy", fighting a "brilliant rear guard action until the battalion was established in fresh positions.""He saw much service at France, was wounded at Pozieres, gained the Military Cross at Messines, and the bar to the Cross at Albert, in April 1918." THE BRAVE PIONEERS – The Advertiser. Published 27 June 1919. Retrieved 7 April 2012, from Trove.
Cumming died of wounds after the Second Battle of Villers-Bretonneux, on 3 May 1918. It was originally believed he was buried at the Australian-British Cemetery, but in 1923 it was discovered the site supposed to be his grave was marked with a military cross, rather than a grave marker. However, his name is included on the Villers–Bretonneux Australian National Memorial.
Honours
See also List of Victorian Football League players who died on active service
Footnotes
References Main, J. & Allen, D., "Cumming, Derwas", pp. 52–54 in Main, J. & Allen, D., Fallen – The Ultimate Heroes: Footballers Who Never Returned From War, Crown Content, (Melbourne), 2002. First World War Nominal Roll: Captain Derwas Goring Cumming, Australian War Memorial. Roll of Honour: Captain Derwas Goring Charles Cumming, Australian War Memorial. First World War Service Record: Derwas Goring Charles Cumming (3087, National Archives of Australia.
External links
Derwas Goring Charles Cumming on the Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour