TOPIC:

Joseph McCusker

Private, 2nd Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers – Anglo Boer War
Gunner, Royal Field Artillery – WWI
Fireman, Merchant Navy

- Queens South Africa Medal (Natal/Transvaal/South Africa 1901) to 3397 PTE. J. MC.CUSKER. 2ND. R.S.F.
- 1914-15 Star to 67063 GNR. J. MC CUSKER. R.F.A.
- British War Meal to 67063 GNR. J. MC CUSKER. R.A.
- Victory Medal to 67063 GNR. J. MC CUSKER. R.A.

The only common thread among the many monikers enjoyed by this man was his Christian name – Joseph. At other times he was known variously by the surnames McCusker, MacCluskey and McClusey with his mother adding to the confusion by referring to herself as Mary McGosgar on one occasion.

Joseph McCusker, for this is the name we will anoint him with for the purposes of this work, was born in Faughanvale, Londonderry, Ireland on 12 August 1877. The son of Mary McCusker, his early years are shrouded in mystery. What is known is that, at some point, Joseph made the trek across the Irish Sea from his native Londonderry to settle in Glasgow, Scotland.



Our first exposure to McClusker comes via the Militia Attestation forms he completed at Ayr on 24 May 1895. Claiming to be 18 years and 9 months old, he was a Labourer by occupation in the employ of Kilmarnock-based contractors Boyd & Forrest in Newmilns, Ayr. He confirmed that he had been born in Faughanvale, Londonderry and that he was 5 feet 7 ½ inches in height, weighed 125 lbs and had a freckled complexion, grey eyes and dark brown hair. A Roman Catholic he sported a number of distinguishing marks about his person in the forms of a mole on his right shoulder, numerous scars on his front chest and symmetrical swelling on either side of his little fingers.

Adjudged to be Fit by the Doctor he was assigned No. 3397 and posted to the 3rd Battalion of the Royal Scots Fusiliers as a Private. Having diligently presented himself for training in the years that followed he was embodied on the 8th December 1899 for service in South Africa. The Anglo Boer War, between the two Boer Republics of the Transvaal and the Orange Free State and Great Britain had been raging since 11 October 1899 and, certainly for the first few months of the conflict, had not been going well for the Imperial forces and their Colonial allies.

On 10 February 1900 McCusker was transferred from the 3rd (Militia) battalion of the RSF to their 2nd Battalion. Part of this process required him to be placed on the Militia Reserve and, to this end, he was required to complete a set of Attestation papers at Aldershot on 31 January 1900. By now he was 23 years and 5 months old and provided his residence as 14 Kirkgate, Irvine, N.B.

Soon after, he set sail for South Africa and the front. The majority of his comrades in the 2nd Battalion had already sailed on the Pavonia about 22nd October 1899, arrived at the Cape about 18th November, and were immediately sent round to Durban. Along with the 2nd Royal Fusiliers, 1st Royal Welsh Fusiliers, and 2nd Royal Irish Fusiliers, they formed the 6th or Fusilier Brigade under Major General Barton fighting at Colenso on 15th December and involved in many of the actions leading up to the eventual liberation of the besieged garrison in Ladysmith on 1 March 1900.

McCusker missed out on all of those actions having only arrived in Natal after the qualifying period for the Relief of Ladysmith and Tugela Heights clasps. He would have joined the Brigade when it was stationed with General Barton in the Krugersdorp district of the Transvaal where they were to see a great deal of fighting as the war raged on.

After the Boer General De Wet had broken out of the Brandwater basin in July 1900 he made for the rugged district south of the Vaal. On 7th August he crossed the river. Barton's force took part in the pursuit. On 5th October General Barton left Frederickstad, McCusker’s battalion forming part of his column. He engaged the enemy at Muller's Drift, Tweefontein, Dewar's Vlei, Welverdiend, and the Gatsrand hills.

On 17th October Barton marched to Frederickstad, fighting the whole way, and on the 20th came in contact with De Wet in command of some 3000 men. On the 25th Barton attacked the enemy facing him. Three companies of the Royal Scots and half a battalion of the Welsh Fusiliers delivered the attack "and scattered the Boers in all directions". They left 24 dead and 19 wounded, besides taking 26 prisoners.

In November the battalion was about Frederickstad, Colonel Carr having been appointed commandant of that town. From December 1900 to May 1901 the battalion was part of the garrison of Johannesburg, forming the outposts for the defence of the town, and holding the water-works, twenty miles outside,—and in the latter month was sent to the Krokodil Valley, holding Nelspruit and other posts, and occasionally coming into action against Boers attempting to blow up the line.

This period coincided with McCusker’s service (and his part in the war) coming to an end. Time expired, he was transferred back to the 3rd Battalion and sent back to England where, once home, he was re-engaged for the Militia on 5 July 1901. What followed was a series of promotions through the ranks – to Corporal – before reverting to Private on 23 July 1908. This was not long before he was discharged, on termination of engagement, on 23 May 1909.

What now lay ahead for McCusker? Research shows that, around this time he joined the Merchant Navy, setting sail for Canada. Unfortunately, the Merchant Marine records were, for the most part, destroyed until around 1918. No matter what the situation once McCusker had heard of the outbreak of WWI on 4 August 1914 he seems to have set sail for Home, intent on doing his bit.

At Liverpool on 1 January 1915 he completed the Short Service papers (For the Duration of the War), wherein he claimed to be living in Blackburn Street, Plantation, Glasgow. Now 37 years and 125 days old he was a Seaman (Able Seaman) and still unmarried. Confirming that he had prior service with the 2nd Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers with no. 3397 he now sported a tattoo of a Female and a Soldier on his right forearm. Having provided his mother, Mary McCusker of 20 Violet Street, Londonderry as his next of kin he was assigned no. 67063 and posted to the Royal Field Artillery as a Gunner. After an initial period of Home Service which saw his promotion to Acting Bombardier, he was posted to France and the Front on 27 September 1915 with the 25th Division. According to a telegram sent from Rouen on 28 May 1916, McCusker was a Gunner with the 11th Brigade R.F.A. Ammunition Column, 3rd Echelon.

Writing from her home at 9 King Street, Waterside, Derry on 4 November 1916, his mother addressed the following letter to the military authorities,

“Dear Sir

I am writing to ask you if you could give me any information about my son Jos McCosgar (sic) 67063 2nd Section 25th Division Ammunition Column Royal Field Artillery B.E.F. France of which I have not heard from since the 8th August and I am very uneasy about him so I hope you will let me have a reply as soon as you can and I will be obliged to you for doing so.

Yours sincerely

Mrs McCosgar

(The use of the “McCosgar” name as opposed to McCluskey or McCusker leads one to speculate whether or not this letter was written by someone else at her request.)

This set the well-oiled wheels of the Army in motion and, ere long, the authorities responded as to his whereabouts.

McCusker was demobilised in 1919. His Protection Certificate on discharge, dated at Georgetown on 7 March 1919 provided a forwarding address of “c/o Devine, 155 Stanley Road, Kinning Park, Glasgow.” Strangely his year of birth was given as 1888 – 11 years younger than we know was the case. On 7 May of that year the R.F.A. Records Officer wrote to the Regimental Paymaster as follows:

“With reference to a memorandum regarding a refund to Gunner McCusker of the travelling expenses he incurred in proceeding from Glendive (Montana) to the United Kingdom, please note that the sum of £6.17 may be paid to him. The amount allowed represents the cost of the railway journey from Glendive to Portland (Oregon) by the most direct route, and is the maximum amount payable.”

On 29 June 1920 McCusker directed a letter to the Officer in Charge of Records at Woolwich. Writing from 20 Anderson Street, Kinning Park, Glasgow he said,

“From late Gunner 67063 J. McCusker 113th Bgde. A.F.A. Royal Field Artillery.

Sir – I have now been demobilised since March 1919 and has been in my present employment since I came from the Army, no Discharge or Character has been sent, would you kindly oblige me by forwarding Character as I want to apply for a better paid job than I am in at present, hoping you see your way to oblige.

I remain sir, your obedient servant.

J. McCusker”

Sadly McCusker was not to enjoy the company of his wife for very long (when they married is unknown.) The Glasgow Observer and Catholic Herald of 15 October 1921 carried this sad insert:

“Of your charity pray for the soul of Rose Ann M’Cusker, who died at 20 Anderson Street, Kinning Park, Glasgow on 1st October 1921. Fortified by Rites of Holy Church. On whose soul, Sweet Jesus, have mercy. Our Lady of Sorrows pray for her.

O Immaculate Heart of Mary,
Your virtues we extol,
O Sacred Heart of Jesus,
Have mercy on her soul.

Inserted by her sorrowing husband, Joseph M’Cusker, 20 Anderson Street, Kinning Park, Glasgow”

Having died intestate, probate of £179 went to her brother, John Devine. To her husband – not a penny. Was there estrangement between husband and wife? Possibly. We know that McCusker had resumed his maritime career and was, at more or less the time his wife died, a Fireman aboard the Magdala, a 3134 ton steamer working out of Glasgow. Prior to that he had been working on Desdemona and, in 1920, Viking Star.


McCusker's Merchant Navy photo circa 1920

What became of McCusker thereafter is unknown.

Acknowledgements:
- Find My Past
- Ancestry
- Stirling
- Newspapers mentioned in text