Brigadier Roy Victor Cutler MBE MC MiD
2nd Field Company Engineers
8th Field Company Engineers
1st Australian Divisional Engineers
Deputy Chief Engineer in Palestine and Trans-Jordan WW2
Deputy Chief Engineer in Palestine WW2
Chief Engineer in Palestine WW2
by Robert Simpson
Roy Victor Cutler was born on 1st November 1892 in Melbourne Victoria (according to the England death index and one service record, but another service record has 30th September 1892 and a birth announcement in the newspaper has 31st October). He was a son of Charles Frederick Cutler and Elizabeth Selina Cornish who had been married in 1886. He had another brother, Charles Ebenezer Cutler who was born in 1888 in Clifton Hill in Victoria. Charles Ebenezer Cutler started off as a watchmaker and then moved into his Father’s business of importing. Charles Frederick Cutler had been born in Collingwood in 1858 and had a business in Little Collins Street Melbourne, which imported watchmakers’ and jewellers’ material and tools. He married Elizabeth Selina Cornish in 1886 in Victoria. His parents were Charles Cutler and Eliza Martha Dixon. Charles had arrived in Melbourne about 1850.and was killed on 25th December 1881 during the collision of the S.S. Julia Percy and the S.S. Nelson. It would seem he fell between the ships after the collision and drowned. He was a builder and had a large influence in Collingwood and was at a time an auditor of municipal accounts for Collingwood and Richmond. Elizabeth Cornish’s father, Ebenezer, was an importer of glass shades and manufacturer of jeweller’s showcases. His wife, Selina, passed away in 1880 at 38 years of age.
Roy worked as an apprentice in the Public Works Department in Melbourne according to his Attestation Form. In Military Orders, dated 24th June 1912, in the 3rd Military District in the Corps of Australian Engineers, Roy Victor Cutler was to be a 2nd Lieutenant (provisionally), supernumerary to the establishment pending absorption. By the 1914 Electoral Roll he was living at Shoobra Rd Easternwick and was listed as an architect. He was living with his parents, as their address was listed as 73 Shoobra Rd in the Electoral Roll and, when he married, as “Dalriada” Shoobra Rd, Easternwick. He was also in the Citizen’s Militia Force from 24th June 1912 to 26th August 1914.
Roy was appointed in the AIF on 26th August 1914 and was allotted to the 2nd Field Company Engineers as a 2nd Lieutenant. He had previously been with the 7th Field Company Australian Engineers in the Australian Military Forces for 2 years and 2 months as a Lieutenant; and before that 1 year in the infantry as a Private and 3 years in the Australian Field Artillery, two of which were as Corporal. He had secondary educational qualifications, was working as an architect and was single. The physical description noted he was 5 foot 9 inches tall, weighed 12 stone 2 pounds, had a chest measurement of 41.5 inches and had normal eyesight. His father was next of kin at Shoobra Rd, which was also still his address. His pay book number was 193381. A Military Order on 23rd September 1914, under the Precedence of AIF Officers has him listed in the 2nd Lieutenants list as number 32.
The Engineers embarked on HMAT A3 Orvieto on 21st October 1914 and arrived at Alexandria on 5th December. His religion was stated as Congregational on one form and Presbyterian on another. He was promoted to Lieutenant on 1st February 1915. They proceeded to join the MEF at Gallipoli on 5th April 1915. He was sent to the 1st Australian Stationary Hospital at Mudros with neurasthenia on 14th July, arriving there on the 17th. It was noted as slight and he was discharged to duty on the 26th and left on the S. S. Aragon on the 27th. A promotion to Captain in the 5th Field Engineers on 26th July, upon transfer to them on that date, was recorded. After travelling on the Minneapolis to Alexandria, he disembarked for duty on 29th July. On 4th August 1915 he was transferred from 2nd Field Company Engineers, 1st Australian Division to 2nd Division Engineers, 2nd Australian Division. At Russell’s Top on 16th September Captain Cutler commenced a survey of the mining system and trenches at the Top. It was decided to tunnel a new and better firing line. In November 1915, with Lance Corporal Moy, he set a charge at the end of a gallery and fired it as Turks could be heard scraping from the other side. A small charge had to be placed at the end of tunnel H1. They fired it and had to do it again in three days time. He was attached to the 4th Field Company Engineers on 3rd December 1915 and returned to his unit at Mudros for duty on the 18th.
While in Egypt he was involved in the construction of an 85-foot suspension bridge on a canal near Maadi with the 2nd Field Company Royal Australian Engineers. There is a picture of its construction. Roy was appointed Major and transferred to the 4th Field Company on 5th March 1916 to command it.
Informal portrait of Second Lieutenant (Lt) Roy Victor “Butcher” Cutler, 2nd Field Company Engineers. 1915.
Outdoor portrait of a group of Australian officers in Martyn’s Lane near Divisional Headquarters, Gallipoli. Identified from left to right are: Chaplain (Padre) Walter Ernest Dexter; Captain Roy Victor Cutler, 2nd Field Company Engineers; Lieutenant Thomas Hastie, 5th Battalion; Captain James Herbert Mirams, 2nd Field Company Engineers (died on 19 August 1916 of wounds received in France); and Lieutenant Colonel Cecil Henry Foott, Assistant Adjutant and Quartermaster General 1st Australian Division. 1915.
He embarked on the Canada from Alexandria for France on 1st June 1916 and disembarked on the 9th at Marseilles to join the BEF. On the 3rd June 1916 the London Gazette recorded that Captain Roy Victor Cutler, Australian Engineers was awarded the Military Cross. The citation reads: – “For conspicuous courage and devotion to duty in mining operations at RUSSELLS TOP particularly on the following occasions. On Nov.10th 1915 he crawled along a tunnel and laid and tamped a 15lb charge of guncotton against a Turkish barricade in spite of a heavy hostile fire. On the same evening he placed a 60lb. charge of guncotton against the face of an underground gallery which was only 12 inches from where the Turks were working on the other side. On Nov.12th 1915 he, in company with another officer, crawled along a gallery and laid and tamped a 15lb. charge of guncotton against a Turkish sand-bag barricade on the other side of which was a hostile sentry who fired over it continuously.” The record was from Russell’s Top Anzac from 10th to 12th November 1915 while he was with the 8th Field Company of 2nd Australian Division Engineers and recognised his work in the birthday honours list of June 1916. Another entry in 13th July 1916 referring to the despatch of General Sir Charles Munro’s Command of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force mentioned Roy for distinguished and gallant services rendered during that period. A letter was sent from Base Records to his father on 22nd September 1916 detailing the award of his Military Cross for distinguished service in the field for Major Roy Victor Cutler of 4th Field Company Engineers, which was promulgated in the London Gazette No. 29608 of 3rd June 1916. On 2nd December 1916 his father was sent a letter from Base Records detailing his Mention in Despatches from General Sir Charles Munro for distinguished and gallant services rendered during the period of his command of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force which included the name of Major Roy Victor Cutler Engineers. It was promulgated in the London Gazette of 11th July 1916, Fourth Supplement No. 29664. On 12th February 1917 he was sent to Engineer Training School in England and was seconded to command the Engineering Training Depot there. At Boulogne he embarked for England on the 14th and marched into the Depot on the 20th. He was seconded to Command Engineer Training Depot in England on 12th February 1917.
On 3rd October 1917 he married Evelyn Westropp in Melford Place, Lavenham in England. The service was celebrated at Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford. Members of Roy’s corps who were in London formed a guard of honour and they walked under a steel arch formed by their bayonets. Two Reverends officiated. Afterwards they left for London. It would appear that she was the only child of Charles Henry Westropp and Alice Maud Smee, who were married on 2nd October 1894 in West Kensington, St Andrew. Charles was a farmer and a landowner, and employed other people on their farm which was at Melford Place. They both passed away in 1942. Roy and Evelyn had three children; Patricia R, born on 20th August 1918 in Melford Place and died April 1998 in Essex, Nancy, born on 12th January 1920 in Melford Place (not confirmed) and a son (according to another family tree) with the first initial R born in 1921 (possibly in India or Gibraltar, not in England). There is a record for a Rose L Cutler born in Roorkee in India in 1921, which could be their third child. Roorkee was the base for the Bengal Engineer Group and was the first town in its state to have hydroelectricity in 1920. Good reasons for Roy to be there, if he was at that time. Patricia married in 1940 and her birth in England was noted in the Argus of Melbourne which also noted that Roy was now of the British Imperial Army, India. No other details are known about the other two children.
He proceeded overseas to France on 11th December 1917 and marched in to A.G.B.D. on the 12th and marched out to 4th Division Engineers on the 15th. On 16th December 1917 he was temporarily attached to Command Company, ceased to be seconded with Engineer Training Depot and resumed regimental duty and was temporarily attached to and to command 13th Company Australian Engineers. He relinquished temporary command on the 30th.
The London Gazette of 7th January 1918 has that Major Roy Victor Cutler M.C. was to be a Member of the said Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. It was also published in some Australian newspapers. A letter was sent to the Secretary of Works and Railways in Melbourne on 15th June 1918 detailing his award of the MBE. His appointment in the AIF was terminated on 4th March 1918 on being appointed to a permanent Commission in the Indian Army. A release form was filled out with this information for him to sign in India, but it was not done. A letter dated 19th January 1918 about him noted he had been selected for transfer on probation to the Indian Army and had been granted leave, but he had to report back when advised of his sailing date to India, so they could terminate his appointment in the AIF. He embarked on 5th March 1918. A cablegram to Melbourne advised Administrative Headquarters AIF that he was appointed a commission in the Indian Army. A statement of active and deferred pay account was done and calculations showed he was owed over 55 pounds.
A note in his service records for particulars to go on the nominal roll is dated 22nd October 1914, but lists him as Major R V Cutler MBE MC, with next of kin as Evelyn in Suffolk and details for her Commonwealth Bank account in England. So these would have to have been written, and apply to, after he was married in late 1917. It stated his pay book number as 142956 and with his rate of pay, 5 shillings was to be deferred, 20 shillings allotted and 10 shillings net. The London Gazette of 15th April 1918, under Infantry General List, has an entry that Major R. V. Cuter, M.B.E., M.C., from Australian Imperial Force was to be a temporary Lieutenant on appointment as probated to the Indian Army on 5th March 1918.
A telegram from Cutler on 20th May 1918 reads:- “General Griffiths Adminaust London = Find Indian climate impossible kindly advise my position Australian Imperial Force should I elect be returned to England second thirtyfourth Sikhs Sialkot”, so the climate in India did not agree with him. On 23rd May a letter is sent to Headquarters enquiring of their instructions for the reply to be sent back to him. The reply stated that provided the Indian Army authorities are willing to release him, and he returned to England, he would be re-appointed into the AIF as a Major with seniority on his re-appointment date. That reply was cabled to him on 13th June 1918. On 24th June Roy sent a cable asking if his original cable had been received, so he had obviously not received the reply. The Indian Government did accept his resignation and he left for England, to report to Administrative Headquarters AIF. He had to pass medical tests to be re-appointed and he arrived in October.
He was discharged from a commission in the Indian Army in London on 21st October 1918 and appointed to the AIF on the 22nd. From England he travelled to France and was taken on strength of 1st Australian Division and posted as supernumerary to establishment. After the war he had applied for his medals through the British Army, who recorded on his Medal index Card that they referred the request to the AIF Officer who applied on his behalf and they were to be issued by the Defence Department in Melbourne. His service record also has that he was in the Indian Army from 5th March 1918 to 21st October 1918. He has another Attestation Form dated 22nd October 1918, as a Major in the Engineers A.I.F. with seniority from that date. It was noted that his previous service was with 4th F.C.E. as Major with appointment terminated on 4th March 1918. It lists his age as 25 and 11/12 years with date of birth as 1st November 1892. Evelyn is noted as his next of kin, at Long Melford and it also has a reference to his father at Shoobra Rd, and then 38 Were Rd. Brighton Beach and a stamp to also notify secretary at works and railway Melbourne. Their permanent address in Australia was Shoobra Rd Easternwick. Roy was described as 25 years and 11 months old, 5 foot 10.75 inches tall, weighed 182 pounds, with a chest measurement of 39 to 42.5 inches. He had a fair complexion with grey eyes and dark brown hair and had a red mole in the centre of his chest and 1 vaccination mark on his left upper arm. A letter from The Secretary, Department of Defence to the Administrative Headquarters AIF in London on 29th October 1918 confirmed the re-appointment and relinquishment of his appointment in the Indian Army. On 24th October 1918 he reported to Engineer Training Depot for duty. He was taken on strength of 2nd Field Company Engineers on 1st December 1918 and posted as supernumerary to establishment. He was transferred to the Military Division of the Order as published in the London Gazette of 27th December 1918. On 1st February 1919 he was transferred to 3rd Flied Company Engineers and on 2nd April transferred to Headquarters 1st Division Engineers as C.R.E. In February 1919 he went on leave to Paris and then had leave in England during March and April of 1919.
He also went back to France in April and May of 1919 and then returned to England in late May. The 1919 Electoral Roll has him living again at Shoobra Rd with his occupation as an architect, but it may simply be an error, carried on from the last roll before the war. A Record of Non-Military Employment for was filled out which details his work as gaining experience in farming with Mr C H Westropp, Long Melford, Suffolk (Evelyn’s father). The duration of employment was from 22nd May 1919 to 22nd August 1919. No date of re-embarkation from Australia was listed. He was paid at 1 pound 15 shillings a day, with a subsistence allowance of 6 shillings a day and railway warrants to the value of 13 pounds. He was not issued money for work clothes or tools. The course was completed on the finishing date, no diploma or certificate was issued and he received a satisfactory report from his employer. In September and October he had more leave and then was marched out for disposal and return to Australia.
The family did embark on the Wahehe on 30th October 1919 from London England, listed as Major Roy Victor Cutler with wife and one child, but it does not state where their destination was, but it is certain to be Australia. A medical report was done while he was on the ship on 13th November 1919. The report for Major Roy Victor Cutler MC MBE of 1st F.C.E. stated he had no sickness or concerns and he was fit for general service. He was described as being 5 foot 10.5 inches tall, chest measurement of 35 to 39 inches, with fair complexion, hazel eyes and fair hair. Roy had a vaccination mark high on his left arm and no disability. His service record notes he was struck off strength. They disembarked in Melbourne on 13th December 1919. His mother wrote to Base Records on 6th December 1919 advising them of the change of address to 8 Were St. Brighton Beach and asking for tickets to go and admitted to the Depot when Roy came in on the Wahehe and to send them to the Brighton Beach address. A reply from Base Records on the 10th advised her that his wife was listed as next of kin, and that is why she was not notified of his arrival (even though she knew of it) and enclosing the admission tickets. A record shows his appointment being terminated in the AIF at Melbourne on 28th December 1919 with and address listed as c/o The Naval and Military Club of Victoria, Melbourne. Base Records replied to Mr S Alexander of 48 Walker St North Sydney with the following; “I have to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 3rd February, and in reply to state details regarding the special service for which the Servian (Serbian!) Gold Medal was awarded to your son, the late No. 1502, 2nd Corporal H. de V. Alexander, 4th Field Company Engineers, are note yet to hand. Should same be received you will be promptly advised. The medal itself will also be forwarded to you in due course. The appointment of Major R.V. Cutler, MBE., MC., to the A.I.F. was terminated in England on his being granted a commission in the Imperial Army. A communication addressed as under should be directed to him: – Ex-Major R.V. Cutler, MBE., MC., 5th Divisional Engineers, AIF C/o War Office, LONDON.” An enquiry from Mr R Rodan of 1 Frederick St, Hawthorn was replied to by Base Records on 18th March 1920, giving Roy’s address as 8 Were St. Brighton Beach. Another letter was acted to on 3rd August 1920 from a Mr W B Shaw of 10 Hayes St. Northcote, looking for Roy, by referring it to Headquarters 3rd Military District. He signed for two oak leaves on 2nd September 1920 and his MID certificate was sent in 1921. Unfortunately all the original letters from these people are not in his service records, so what the original enquiry was is not fully known. He was qualified in Tactical Fitness for Command and passed a Course of Instruction in November 1921.
In 1921 receipt of his British War Medal was signed for and in 1922 his Victory medal, after enquiring if he would be getting it before Anzac day 1922. He wrote to them in February 1922 indicating he would be leaving Australia to take up an appointment in England in March. The medal was issued in April, although the reply from Base Records indicated they would not be ready before then. The London Gazette of 14th February 1922, under Corps of Royal Engineers, has the following entry- “The undermentioned to be Capts. 15 Feb. 1922, with seniority 5th Feb 1921:- Maj. R. V. Cutler, M.B.E., M.C., from Australian Engineers, with precedence next above Capt. H. E. Moores, D.S.O., M.C.” As he was commissioned in the British Army, a request was sent to Base Records for them to forward a statement showing in full his services with the AIF. His commission in the Australian Engineers was terminated on his appointment to a commission in the British Army in Army Order 160 of 6th May 1922. A note on one of his records’ of service has 25th March 1923 in India and no other comments, so it is not known what it means apart from him being there.
In July 1924 Roy left Colombo on the Mooltan, bound for London, where he disembarked on 16th August 1924. He was listed as a soldier living in India. Evelyn and the children were also with him on the ship, so they had all been living in India. The record stated they intended to live in England in the future at Melford Place, Long Melford, Suffolk. The electoral register for Surrey in 1928 has him listed in Elwyn at Blacktown Barracks. (It is now known as Princess Royal Barracks, Deepcut). It had been used as a training ground from the late 19th century and was close to Long Melford. An issue of the London Gazette in March 1931 has under Corps of Royal Engineers that he was to be a Major from 5th March 1931. In 1932, on 6th February, he left London on the Orford, which was bound for Australia, but he was contracted to get off at Gibraltar and he was listed as an Army Officer with the rank of Major. This was the beginning of many sea voyages from London to Gibraltar and back. Evelyn left London on 30th April 1932 on the Otranto, bound for Gibraltar. She was by herself. She left Gibraltar in June 1932 on the Chitral and arrived at London on the 24th. Evelyn listed her country of intended future residence as England and she was going to Melford Place, Long Melford, Suffolk to presumably her parent’s place. None of the children were listed with her. This was her last voyage that is able to be found. For whatever reason, Evelyn petitioned for divorce in 1935. The records are not online, but can be ordered and copied for a fee. Presumably she was successful.
Roy continued to travel between Gibraltar and England, but his address in England changed to Jersey. He returned to London on 12th August 1932 from Gibraltar on the Mooltan, as an army officer with his address to be Victoria Club St. Helier, Jersey. On 15th August he arrived in Southampton on the Baloeran, staying at the same place. He departed London on the Strathnaver on 6th October 1933 as a soldier from St. Peters, Jersey, bound for Gibraltar. He boarded the Comorin at Southampton on 18th August 1934, again a soldier from Jersey, bound for Gibraltar. Arriving in London on 2nd May 1935 on the Strathaird from Gibraltar, he was listed as an army officer and was residing at United Services Club, Pall Mall. He departed at Southampton on the Kaisar-I-Hind for Gibraltar on 7th June 1935. On 13th July 1936 he arrived in London on the Katori Maru from Gibraltar as an army officer and was residing at United Service Club 116 Pall Mall UK.
In the July quarter of 1936 he married Gladys Watson Jean at Westminster Middlesex. She had previously been married to Thomas Harrison (in September 1922). They then departed Liverpool on 15th August 1936, bound for Gibraltar on the Elysia. He was still listed as an army officer living in Jersey. This is the last record of him travelling, so it is not known what he did afterwards or how long he served in Gibraltar, only his service records would answer that. On 9th June 1939 Base Records replied to Mr A. McD. Ferguson of Oban St South Yarra stating that the only address they had for Major Cutler was C/o Naval and Military Club of Victoria. However they also stated that he had subsequently left to take up a permanent appointment in England and they suggested writing to the High Commissioner, Australia House in London. On 17th February 1939 he was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel.
It is not known what he did there but, after World War 2, Gibraltar’s roll as a fortress became superfluous and tunnelling had stopped. He was still in the Regular Army, Corps of Royal Engineers in 1939 as in the London Gazette of 24th February he was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel from 17th February. Another entry in 20th February 1942 has “Lt.-Col. R. V. Cutler, M.B.E., M.C. (1222), on completion of tenure of serv. As Regtl. Lt.-Col., remains on full pay (supernumerary). 17th Feb. 1942.” During World War 2 he initially served as Deputy Chief Engineer in Palestine and Trans-Jordan in 1941, then as Deputy Chief Engineer in Palestine from late 1941 to 1943 and finally as Chief Engineer in Palestine from 1943 to 1944 according to one site, but it does not give any other information. He retired on full pay on 3rd June 1947 and was granted the honorary rank of Brigadier. Another entry in the London Gazette on 6th April 1948 has that Lieutenant-Colonel (Honorary Brigadier) R V Cutler MBE MC (1222) having exceeded the age limit of liability to recall, ceases to belong to the Reserve of Officers on 7th April 1948.
His mother passed away on 25th September 1944 in private hospital Easternwick. Her address was given as 11 Menzies Ave Brighton and Roy was noted as a Colonel, Royal Engineers. His father passed away on 11th August 1945 and was privately cremated. Their ashes are both at the Springvale Botanical Cemetery.
On 31st March 1967 he wrote to Base Records enquiring on applying for an Anzac medallion and lapel badge and lists his particulars of service. It also states “I was later (1922) commissioned in the Royal Engineers with whom I served until retired in June 1947”. He also headed the letter Brigadier R V Cutler UK.
In February 1986 he passed away on the Isle of Wight at the age of 93. Gladys passed away in November of the same year. They are both buried on the Isle of Wight.
When WW1 began, a booklet was produced of the First Contingent from Victoria in September 1914. In it, Under the heading Lieutenants, was R V Cutler, numbered 29, whose photo appears above.
His medals are MBE, MC, 1914-15 Star, British War medal, Victory medal with MID oak leaf attached, 1939-45 Star, Africa Star, Defence Medal and 1939-45 War Medal. He was one of only four AIF Officers to receive the MBE, MC combination.
ANZAC Biographies
On our website you will find the biographical details of ANZAC (as well as British) servicemen & women
whose medals or other memorabilia form part of the collection belonging to the
Maryborough Military & Colonial Museum,
Maryborough, Queensland, Australia.