Joseph Percy Cutler

Sergeant, Australian Imperial Force

Joseph Percy Cutler was 26 years old when he enlisted in the Army in 1914. He studied at Alleyn’s until 1903 before moving to Australia where he found work as a farmer. During this time, Joseph’s mother, Ada, and his sister, Lilian, continued to live in South West London at 128 Tulse Hill. Shortly after the outbreak of war, Joseph made the decision to enlist in Australian Imperial Force and was taken on as part of 10^th Field Artillery Brigade which had received orders to join the Gallipoli campaign. He embarked in May 1915 and after serving with the brigade for a few months he was promoted to the rank of Corporal in August. Joseph became ill twice during his time on the Eastern Front, suffering with enteritis on both occasions due to the unsanitary living conditions and lack of clean water available during the campaign. After a short period of rest, he recovered from each bout of sickness and quickly resumed his place in the line where he continued to serve with 10^th FAB until the peninsula was evacuated in December 1915. After returning to England, Joseph was granted a training position as Sergeant before he was transferred to the Western Front in May 1916. He saw action in France until being hospitalised in May 1917 when he received a gunshot wound to his wrist and eye. He was sent back home to England to recover from the injury and returned to Western Front in August 1917. Joseph served for only a month in France before he received another gunshot wound in action. He died a month later as a result of the wound and his personal belongings were forwarded to his mother and sister back home in England.