Derwas Cumming

Derwas Goring Charles Cumming MC & Bar (24 September 1891 – 3 May 1918), also known as Dave Cumming, was an Australian rules footballer and soldier who was killed in the First World War. Born in Millicent, South Australia, he moved to Western Australia with his family, where he played for the Perth Football Club in the West Australian Football League (WAFL). Cumming later moved to Melbourne to attended the University of Melbourne, where he played for the University Football Club in the Victorian Football League (VFL), before returning to Perth. He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in 1914, and served in the Gallipoli Campaign and on the Western Front. He was awarded the Military Cross in 1917, but died of wounds after the Second Battle of Villers-Bretonneux in 1918.

Early life and football career
Goring was born in Millicent, South Australia, on 29 September 1891, the second of five children born to Charles Walter Cumming and Catherine Frances Henrietta Cumming (née Jones). Both sides of his family had originally emigrated from England. Cumming returned with his family to Perth, Western Australia, where his father was from, at an early age, where 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". At school, Cumming excelled at cricket and football, captaining the college's cricket team in 1909. The following year, he was named Champion Athlete of the Secondary Schools at the combined athletics carnival of the Public Schools Association, after winning the 100-yard race, 220-yard race, the 440-yard race, the 120-yard hurdles, the high jump, and the long jump.

After a number of matches for school which caught the attention of recruiters, Cumming made his senior debut for the Perth Football Club in the West Australian Football League (WAFL) against on 22 June 1907. He was aged 15 years and 273 days on his debut, becoming one of the youngest footballers to play in the WAFL. 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. After his graduation 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". He played a total of 21 games for the club, kicking 34 goals, before returning to Perth after the completion of his degree.

Military career and death
Having previously worked on his mother's farm, Yalkin, at Doodlakine, Cumming enlisted in the Australian Army in September 1914. 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. 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. 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." 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. When the enemy attacked he repeatedly repulsed them, and later protected the left, bringing very heavy fire onto the enemy particularly at right angles to the line, and fighting a brilliant rear guard action until the battalion was established in fresh positions."

Cumming died of wounds after the Second Battle of Villers-Bretonneux, on 3 May 1918. His uncle, Brigadier General Michael Derwas Goring Jones, CMG, DSO, was killed in a poison gas attack during the same month, and his brother, Redmond Harry Owen Cumming, had been taken as a prisoner of war in April 1917, and later poisoned himself, several years after the conclusion of the war. It was originally believed Cumming 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, Cumming's name is included on the Villers–Bretonneux Australian National Memorial.