Cumming, William Allan - Private (241307)

(No soldier photo available)

1st/5th Battalion,
East Lancashire Regiment,
Died from pneumonia 7th March 1919
Age 29,
Buried St. John's Stonefold, 10th March 1919.

William Allan Cumming was born in Dundee, Scotland in 1890. He was the son of William and Catherine (Kate) Cumming. In 1891 the family were living at 72, Strathmartine Road, Dundee. William’s father was not listed in the 1891 census but William (aged 8 months) was at that time living with his mother, brothers Henry and Alexander and sisters Mary, Agnes and Daisy. By 1901 the family had moved to England and William was living at 9, Norfolk Street, Accrington, with his parents, brother, Alexander and sisters, Mary, Agnes, Daisy and Violet. He served in the 1/5^th Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment during the war. William died on 7 March 1919 from pneumonia following influenza. He was aged 29 and single. He lived at 45 Hud Hey Road, Haslingden.  William was interred in St. John's, Stonefold, churchyard on 10 March, 1919 in the family grave. 

A memorial service was held at King Street Methodist Chapel, Haslingden, on Sunday 15 March 1919, in memory of four persons connected with the Chapel who had been interred the previous week. One of these was William Allan Cumming. He had recently been discharged from the Army and the service was attended by members of the Discharged and Demobilised Sailors and Soldiers Association and representatives of the Royal and Ancient Order of Buffaloes. The Revd. H. Wade preached an appropriate sermon and the organist played “O rest in the Lord" and "The Dead March" from "Saul”.

Pte Wm Allan Cumming - Census Certificate - (Click over to enlarge)