CUMMINGS, Harry

NAME                  CUMMINGS           Harry
RANK                  Private                    109358                                                                                                                                        1st Canadian Army  -  2nd Canadian Infantry Division  -  6th Infantry Brigade                              REGIMENT         Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada
                            “strength, spirit and renown”
                            Royal Canadian Infantry Corp                                                                                                  Born                     November 7, 1921 - Portrush - County Atrim - Northern Ireland                                    Residence            Centralia                                                                                                                                    Died                     July 31, 1944          22 years   8 months
Cemetery             Bretteville-Sur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery - Cintheaux - France
                             I F 8                                                                                                                                    Mother                 Mrs. Elizabeth Cummings - Brussels                                                                                  Brothers              Fergus lived in Guelph                                                                                                                                                Frank lived in Clinton                                                                                                                                                  Jim, Eddie, Michael, Bernard and Carl all lived on the family homestead in Brussels            Sisters                 Margaret and Theresa lived in London                                                                                                                        Kathleen lived in Toronto                                                                                                                                            Mary lived in Brussels                                                                                                                                                  Mrs. George Middlemix - Woodstock                                                                                           

As he grew up, he enjoyed playing some softball and hockey. He also enjoyed hunting, tinkering with machinery, reading and playing the violin and harmonica. He played those instruments by ear. Harry was into farming before he joined the Army and worked for Mr. Heber Davis of Centralia. The family would have attended St. Ambrose Catholic Church. His parents were married in Northern Ireland in 1908 and at some point after 1936 the family immigrated to Canada and found their way to Brussels. Harry completed 2 years of high school in Northern Ireland in 1936. He had worked on the family farm for 4 years and prior to enlistment for two years he worked as a farm labourer in Centralia for Heber Davis.

Canada

Harry went to London on October 29, 1943 and enlisted into the Canadian Army. At the time of his enlistment he stood 5' 11" in height and he weighed 155 pounds. He had hazel eyes and brown hair. With the rank of Private he was Taken on Service to No. 1 Clearing Depot and assigned to No. 1 Manning Depot where he remained until November 19 at which time he was posted to No. 12 Basic Training Centre in Chatham.                                      On January 16, 1944 he was on enlistment into the Active Force and posted to the Canadian Infantry Corps. A week later he was posted to No. 3 District Depot in Ottawa for psysiological testing with No. 5 Company. On February 11 he is on transfer to A29 Canadian Infantry Corps Training Centre at Camp Ipperwash and posted to No. 1 Company. 

Overseas

Private Cummings was Struck off Service of the Canadian Army in Canada and embarked from Canada for overseas on June 25, 1944 and while at sea the next day was Taken on Service with the Canadian Army overseas. He disembarked in the United Kingdom on July 3 and reported for duty July 4 at No. 2 Canadian Infantry Reinforcement Unit. On July 14 he was Taken on Service with the 13th Battalion - Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada. In 1944 he took 22 calibre and 303 calibre rifle training plus Bren gun training.

In the Field

Private Cummings embarked from the United Kingdom on July 17 and a day later on July 18 disembarked in France.  One week later he was killed in the field. On July 24, 1944 he was re-assigned to the South Saskatchewan Regiment.                                                                                                                                Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders war diary state on July 31 the weather was fine, excellent visibility and a fresh breeze. "B & D" Companies leave the line for a 48 hour rest period. "A & C" Companies were still on the front line under the command of Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal who have taken over the defence of St Andre sur Orne. At 3 am the enemy long range guns began intermittent shelling of bridges over the River Orne in the centre of Caen. On August 1 was a fine day, visibility was good, it was hazy and there was a warm wind. The Regiment was located at Faub de Vauceville with "B & D" Companies in close contact with the area after relieving "A & C" Companies.                                                                                                                                                                    The South Saskatchwean war diary for July 31 stated that in the early morning of July 31st, the defensive positions were moved and all Companies moved. The result of the move was that now all the Companies were more spread out over a larger area. During the night of July 31 / August 1 there were no patrols sent out as an artillery barrage was to take place in support of the Calagary Highlanders in their attack on Tilly-la-Campagne August 1 the Regiment successfully attacked the church in St Martin de Fontenay and that "C" Company had been involved in action with the enemy and had taken casualties 

Harry was awarded the Memorial Cross which his mother received on in January of 1945 and the 1939-45 Star, the France Germany Star, the War Medal and the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and clasp in March 1950.

Harry is honoured and remembered on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial, on the Memorial Plaque of St Ambrose Catholic Church. He is not named on the Brussels Cenotaph but it is felt his name should be etched onto it.