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Pte. Matthew Maughan Cumming
British Army 18th Battalion Durham Light Infantry
from:Witton Gilbert, Durham
(d.28th Jul 1916)
Matthew Cumming, my great grand uncle, enlisted on the 24th of September 1914 at the age of 23 years 7 months and joined up with the 18th Battalion for training on the 10th of October 1914 at Cocken Hall, Durham. Upon completion of field training the battalion were dispatched for front line action in Egypt on the 6th of December 1915. On the 5th of March 1916 they left for France.
On the 28th of July 1916 Matthew’s life was cut short at the Battle of the Somme. Whilst under heavy bombardment a shell hit the trench they were in and he was recorded as lost in action. He was aged 26.
Sometime after his father William received a letter from Matthew’s commanding officer Second Lieutenant James B Bradford, which was written from his hospital bed: "I am writing to tell you of how awfully sorry to hear of your son’s death. I am sure it will be a great blow to you. I heard about it by letter some days ago sent to me by one of my men. I had sent your son some cigarettes and they received them the day he was killed. Your son was my batman for four months at the front and I can truthfully say he was the best one I had ever had. Further he was a brave boy and I liked him very much indeed, and was very cut up when I had the news sent to me of his death. With my deepest sympathy, in your sad loss. Yours truly, Second Lieutenant James B Bradford"
