Pte
John Graham Cousins
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 27/09/1892 |
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Place of birth: Omeo, Victoria, Australia |
General information
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Last known residence: Omeo, Victoria, Australia |
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Profession: Labourer |
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Religion: Church of England |
Army information
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Country: Australia |
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Force: Australian Imperial Force |
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Rank: Private |
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Service number: 2351 |
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Enlistment date: 10/05/1915 |
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Enlistment place: Bruthen, Victoria, Australia |
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Units: — Australian Infantry, 46th Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 08/06/1917 |
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Place of death: Mesen, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 24 |
Memorial
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Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial Panel: 27 F |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 4
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Last known residence | ||
| #3 | Enlistment place | ||
| #4 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
John was born and raised in Omeo, Victoria. He was the son of James Graham Cousins and Ann Reed Francis. John was working as a labourer when he enlisted in Bruthen, Victoria. In October 1915, he sailed for the Mediterranean and was taken up by the 46th Battalion in Egypt in January 1916. The battalion was sent to France and disembarked at Marseille in June 1916.
After seeing action at the Somme and Bullecourt, the 46th Battalion went to Flanders, Belgium, where it would take part in the upcoming Battle of Messines. On the opening day of the Battle, the 46th Battalion took up positions south of La Plus Douve Farm at Subsidiary Trench (T.12.c), as a reserve Battalion. During the following days, most of the men of the 46th Battalion were deployed as carriers from the Brigade Dump at Gooseberry Farm to the front line at Owl Trench, astride the Rue de Comines between Messines and the hamlet of Gapaard.
According to sources in John's Red Cross wounded and missing file, he was with a carrying party when he was hit by a machine gun bullet in his groin. The bullet ruptured an artery and by the time stretcher bearers were able to dispose of him, he had bled to death. John, 24, was buried in the field, a few hundred yards southwest to south of the village of Messines, near what is now the Irish Peace Tower. His grave was soon lost due to constant shelling and John is commemorated at the Menin Gate.
After seeing action at the Somme and Bullecourt, the 46th Battalion went to Flanders, Belgium, where it would take part in the upcoming Battle of Messines. On the opening day of the Battle, the 46th Battalion took up positions south of La Plus Douve Farm at Subsidiary Trench (T.12.c), as a reserve Battalion. During the following days, most of the men of the 46th Battalion were deployed as carriers from the Brigade Dump at Gooseberry Farm to the front line at Owl Trench, astride the Rue de Comines between Messines and the hamlet of Gapaard.
According to sources in John's Red Cross wounded and missing file, he was with a carrying party when he was hit by a machine gun bullet in his groin. The bullet ruptured an artery and by the time stretcher bearers were able to dispose of him, he had bled to death. John, 24, was buried in the field, a few hundred yards southwest to south of the village of Messines, near what is now the Irish Peace Tower. His grave was soon lost due to constant shelling and John is commemorated at the Menin Gate.
Sources 4
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46th Infantry Battalion (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), AWM4 23/63/17). https://www.awm.gov.au/ Sources used |
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Australian Red Cross Wounded and Missing Enquiry Bureau (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), RCDIG1041742). https://www.awm.gov.au/ Sources used |
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First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920 (National Archives of Australia, Canberra (NAA), B2455, COUSINS J G). https://www.naa.gov.au/ Sources used |
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Unit embarkation nominal rolls, 1914-18 War (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), AWM8). https://www.awm.gov.au/ Sources used |
More information 4
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/1598520 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=e09d3250-2f31-47d0-90e8-cc5a6f966cc6 |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/7399998 |
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The AIF Project (UNSW Canberra) https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=64370 |