Cuthbert Foster Fetherstonhaugh

Cuthbert Foster Fetherstonhaugh was born on 21st May 1892 in North Melbourne, Victoria, to Dr Charles Fetherstonhaugh and Ellen (Nellie) nee Cathrew. Cuthbert and his siblings attended Corryong State School. In 1903, he was voted as ‘most popular boy in the school’.

On 28th August 1914, he enlisted at Melbourne, Victoria. At the time, he was a single, 22-year-old station hand from Ferguson St, Williamstown, Victoria. He was allocated Regimental Number 823 and placed in Headquarters 2nd Field Artillery Brigade. Cuthbert Foster named his father, Dr Charles Fetherstonhaugh, as his next of kin. After initial training, he embarked on HMAT A9 Shropshire at Melbourne, Victoria, on 20th October 1914.

Cuthbert landed on Gallipoli on 26th April 1915. He was quickly promoted to Corporal and then to Sergeant. On 21st September, he was wounded in the foot. He was evacuated from Gallipoli and placed aboard the HS Dunlusce Castle. On the 27th, Cuthbert was transferred to the Military Hospital on Malta. Two weeks later, he embarked on the HT Huntslet and was sent to England. On 11th October, he was admitted to the 3rd General Hospital in London.

In late January of the following year, Cuthbert was discharged from the AIF. He decided to enlist in the Royal Field Artillery (Special Reserve), where he would be granted a U.K. commission (Second Lieutenant). Nothing is known of Cuthbert's experiences in this unit. It is known that the unit was part of the Army Reserve, and its personnel were used to train regular artillery personnel.

Cuthbert married Dorothy Frances Fetherstonhaugh on 3rd February 1916, at Steyning, Sussex, England. Dorothy was the only daughter of Arthur Fetherstonhaugh and Mrs Barton, both of whom were deceased.

For his service, he was awarded the 1914/15 Star, the British War Medal, and the Victory Medal.

After the war, the couple sailed to Australia, where their first child, Joan, was born on 30 August 1919. At some stage over the next few years, the family moved to Canada, where their son, Charles, was born. The 1924 Electoral Rolls show that the Fetherstonhaugh family had moved back to Australia and were living in the Ballarat area, where Cuthbert was farming. Cuthbert passed away on 8th March 1937 and was buried in Ararat General Cemetery, Ararat, Victoria.

Cuthbert’s eldest child, Charles Brian, was killed in action on 10th January 1943 in a mine-laying operation off the Frisian Islands, Netherlands.