Gerald Robert Rowland Cussen

CUSSEN, Gerald Robert Rowland- – – – SPC 1909

DoB:- – 7 May 1899, Ballarat, VIC

Father:- – Gerald Eugene Cussen

Mother:– – Emma Clarice, nee Whitehead

This boy was known as Robert while at St Patrick’s.

Service No:– DEPOT

Rank:– – Private

Unit:- – Recruit Depot Battalion, Broadmeadows Camp

Gerald Robert Cussen enlisted for the first time in March 1916, but was discharged after a short period of training in November of that year, as he was discovered to be underage.

He enlisted again on 29 October 1918 in Melbourne. He was 19 years and five months old, five feet 10 and a quarter inches tall, with a dark complexion, blue eyes and dark brown hair. He noted his occupation as student. He was appointed to the Recruit Depot Battalion at Broadmeadows, but only served 57 days before the Armistice was announced and he was demobilised on 24 December 1918.

Gerald Cussen settled back into civilian life as a farmer in the Pakenham area. He married Jean Wright Abbott in Dandenong in 1932, and they had one daughter, Margery Nell, born around 1936.

Gerald died on 27 January 1946, aged 46 years, leaving his wife and ten year old daughter. He was buried at Dandenong Cemetery, Victoria.