Private Alfred Cussans 14380306 Somerset Light Infantry 1st Btn

Discussion in 'Searching for Someone & Military Genealogy' started by Natalie Longman, Apr 23, 2014.

  1. Natalie Longman

    Natalie Longman Well-Known Member

    I am currently researching Private Alfred Cussans who is commemorated on a memorial in Hindle House Dalston Hackney London. The information I have is Alfred Cussans Somerset Light Infantry 1st btn Service No. 14380306 Born 1925 Died 27th Jan 1944 Age 19 Son of Albert John & Daisy Elizabeth Cussans of Hackney London. He died during the campaigns in Burma, South East Asia. As far as I'm aware there is no known grave, but he is commemorated on the Rangoon Memorial Face 7 (I have requested a photo of the panel from a forum member).
    I would appreciate any further information, photographs and/or contact with his family.
    Thanks Natalie Longman
     
  2. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    Hi Natalie,

    The 1st Somersets were part of the 114th Indian Infantry Brigade fighting in the Arakan. At the time of Alfred's death they were engaged with the Japanese north of Kalapazin River.

    There are some wonderful photographs of the battalion and some other useful information on this website:

    http://ge.tt/2Qnl8uT

    Previously on WW2Talk we discussed the battalion and that particular period, here:

    http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/41689-1st-somerset-light-infantry/?hl=%2B1st+%2Bsomerset+%2Barakan#entry520879

    hopefully there will be something for you amongst this info. :)
     
  3. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Here's the war diary details at Kew

    WO 172/4916 1 Somerset Light Infantry (Prince Albert's) 1944 Jan.- Apr.
     
  4. Natalie Longman

    Natalie Longman Well-Known Member

    Bamboo43 - Thanks for the links fascinating photos and story from Elgar. I cannot imagine a teenage boy from Hackney being there.
    Drew5233 - Thanks for the war diary reference, I will either visit Kew to see them (I need several others) or ask you to get them for me. My husband has been there once and it is a long day for us although very worthwhile.
     
  5. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Happy to copy any files for you Natalie at my usual rate of 10p a page. Just shout if you need anymore refs for any other diaries.

    Good luck
    Andy
     
  6. Natalie Longman

    Natalie Longman Well-Known Member

    Thanks Andy, we will be uploading several more who died on active service (one or two a week), once we have listed a few we will take you up on your offer.
     
  7. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    Hi Natalie,

    Glad they were of interest. Yes, for those posted to India and the Far East, it must have seemed like another planet when they first arrived. Although, before war started some postings out that way were very nice numbers, Hong Kong for instance.

    Good luck going forward.

    Steve
     
  8. Charpoy Chindit

    Charpoy Chindit Junior Member

    Pte Cussans was killed during 1 Som LI's disastrous attack on Japanese positions on Pyinshe Kala ridge in the Arakan 26/01/44 and the subsequent Japanese counter-attack on 27/01/44. It was a four platoon attack and it was estimated that they suffered about 60% casualties. 45 were fatalities, killed or missing, and none of them have known graves – all are recorded on the Rangoon Memorial. The position was abandoned in panic and there are accounts of Japanese atrocities on the abandoned wounded. Only two were recorded as killed (as opposed to missing) and Cussans was one of them, so we can assume that his death was observed by someone before the position was abandoned.

    I would be interested to hear more about the Hindle House War Memorial for, in addition to studying the war in Burma for 25 years, I also worked in an office in Arcola Street for 10 years – directly opposite Hindle House. I feel a bit guilty that I didn’t know of the memorial’s existence.
     
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  9. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    Nice detail for Natalie there Charpoy Chindit. Was this information taken from the WO361 files at the National Archives by any chance, as I was thinking of looking in these next time I'm up there. As you say, as one of the men witnessed as having been killed, Pte. Cussans may not feature in the reports at Kew.

    Thanks

    Steve
     
  10. Charpoy Chindit

    Charpoy Chindit Junior Member

    No, there is an extensive report on the action in the War Diary which includes a list of the killed, wounded and missing. It doesn't make for comfortable reading.
    I have always assumed that this may not be unconnected with the bn's transfer to the NWF soon after.
     
  11. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    Thanks for getting back, yes, information like this can be hard for families to take in. It is something I consider when in contact with relatives from the campaign.
     
  12. Natalie Longman

    Natalie Longman Well-Known Member

    Thanks Charpoy Chindit.
    The plaque was originally on the community centre external wall facing the Arcola Street entrance, it was taken down when the community centre was enlarged around 20 years ago and lost. It has now been found and is located on the inside of the community centre ground floor stair lobby although there is some damage to it. We hope to get it restored if the current custodian agrees to it, We have informed IWM that it is no longer lost. There are 24 local people commemorated on it including those killed when a bomb struck the building during the blitz, a fireman and those who died on active service including my husband's great uncle. The plaque can be seen through a window otherwise you need to contact the caretaker to see it.
     
  13. Charpoy Chindit

    Charpoy Chindit Junior Member

    Thanks for that. I'll feel slightly less guilty knowing that it is still there, and will take a look next time I'm over that way.
     
  14. Natalie Longman

    Natalie Longman Well-Known Member

    Charpoy, we now have a facebook page relating to the HH war memorial the link is https.//www.facebook.com/hindlehousewarmemorialproject we will be updating it regularly as the project progresses.
     
  15. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    Hi Natalie,

    I had a quick look at your page, congratulations and I hope the project develops positively for you.

    Steve
     
  16. Charpoy Chindit

    Charpoy Chindit Junior Member

    I've just had a quick look - excellent! Well done.
     
  17. amberdog45

    amberdog45 Senior Member

    Hi Natalie, couldn't post the attached to your Facebook page but thought you would like to know that Alfred is mentioned in a couple of newspapers at the 'britishnewspaperarchive'. You would need to purchase credits to view them in full. I think I found them just using the search term A. Cussans in the advanced search field. Good luck with your project.
     

    Attached Files:

  18. AshardA

    AshardA Member

    My grandfather's youngest brother served in the 1st battalion during WW2 and was killed in 1945. Does anyone have any info on a Reginald Ashard?
     
  19. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

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