CUMMING, Douglas Anderson (1919-1944)
Douglas Anderson Cumming was notable as one of the College's foremost rowers, participating not only as a member of the 1st Rowing VIII in 1935 and 1936 but as Captain of Boats over those years as well. His Captaincy culminated in the first Head of the River victory for Geelong College in 1936. He had earlier been awarded the Gillespie Scripture Prize in 1931 and 1932 and the Music Prize in 1932.
He was born on 9 December 1918, the son of Gerald Dowling Cumming and Mary Daisy nee Anderson, of Darlington. He was a boarder at Geelong College from 14 October 1929 until December 1936 after having been taught by a governess. On leaving College, he took up sheep breeding with his father at 'Jellalabad', Darlington, and was esteemed by good judges as one of the most promising among younger sheep men.
At the outbreak of World War II, he was a member of his local Light Horse unit, then joined the AIF, but later enlisted (No. 410312) in the RAAF, where he rose to the rank of Flying Officer.
Douglas Cumming met his death on air operations with 450 (Kittyhawk) Squadron - 'The Desert Harassers' - attached to 239 Wing Headquarters in Italy on 29 May 1944. He was originally buried in Morolo Civil Cemetery but at war's end was re-interred to Cassino War Cemetery, Grave X.K.6.
The Australian War Memorial (AWM) Collection includes a photo, taken shortly before he was killed, entitled: 'San Angelo, Italy. c.May 1944. 401312 Flying Officer D A (Andy) Cumming of Vi, discusses a few point with his fitter, 33354 Leading Aircraftman Fred L Greaves 1, before taking his Curtis P40 Kittyhawk aircraft on a 'Cab Rank'2 mission over the front line. 21180 Sgt Alec W Wilson 3 in the foreground is talking about serviceability with LAC Brian Weight4 right. All are members of No. 450 (Kittyhawk) squadron RAAF.'
1 LAC Frederick Louis Greaves, of Chatswood, NSW.
2 During the fighting in Italy, the squadron was often employed on 'cab rank' duty in which aircraft would circle close to the battlefield ready to be called in by ground-based controllers to attack targets impeding the army's advance.
3 Alexander Watson Wilson, of Glasgow, Scotland, and Newcastle, NSW
4 Bryan Oswald Weight, of Sydney.
Sources: Geelong Collegians at the Second World War by James Affleck pp22-23 (citing The Pegasus; Australian War Memorial; Commonwealth War Graves Commission; Photo - Doug Wilson).