Melville Robert Cuthbertson DCM | Bacchus Marsh Avenue Of Honour

Lieutenant Melville Robert Cuthbertson DCM

Service No.:

523

Unit:

23^rd Battalion

Tree No.:

N071

Planted by:

Mrs W Grant Morton

Image of plaque on tree S071 for Melville Cuthbertson

See Notes (1)

Melville was born at Maryborough, QLD on the 20^th of December 1893, to James Watson Cuthbertson and Caroline Elizabeth White.

His father was a native of Bacchus Marsh and his grandfather an officer in the Prince of Wales' Light Horse, the pride of the Bacchus Marsh district years ago.
Source: The Bacchus Marsh Express, 19 August 1916

Melville was an accountant and gave his address as Parkside, SA when he enlisted in the AIF, 23^rd Battalion on the 22^nd of February 1915, at Melbourne, aged 21. He embarked aboard the HMAT A14 Euripides in May and disembarked in Egypt in June.

Whilst continuing his training in Egypt, Melville was made acting Corporal then Corporal at the end of July 1915. He landed at ANZAC Cove early in September and probably served at Lone Pine before returning to Egypt in January 1916 where he was promoted to Sergeant.

In March 1916 he disembarked at Marseilles, France and by July had been promoted to Company Sergeant Major - Warrant Officer Class 2. Not long after he was promoted to 2^nd Lieutenant and was involved in the Battle of Pozieres - an action which saw him awarded the DCM.

523 Sjt. M. R. Cuthbertson, Aust. Inf. For conspicuous gallantry during operations. He commanded a working party consolidating the ground won, and also did fine work collecting the wounded under fire.
Source: London Gazette 26^th September 1916

In late August 1916 Melville received a gunshot wound to the ear - at Pozieres - and was invalided back to England, rejoining his unit in November. Melville was promoted to Lieutenant in January 1917. In July he was detached for duty in England with the 6^th Training Battalion. He returned to France in October but was soon hospitalised with Adenitis. Discharged from hospital in November he ceased his detachment and proceeded to rejoin the 23^rd Battalion, however he was again hospitalised - sinus of neck, an old wound - and returned to England in mid November. In December he embarked for Australia aboard the HMAT A34 Persic, arriving back in Australia in February 1918. His appointment was terminated in March.

Melville Cuthbertson died at Somers, VIC, in 1958, aged 64.

He is listed on the Bacchus Marsh & District Roll of Honour.

Notes

Initials should be M R

Location of Tree Number N071

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Lieutenant Melville Robert Cuthbertson DCM

Notes

Location of Tree Number N071

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