World War I Victoria Cross Recipient. He received the award from British King George V in July 1917 at Hyde park in London, England for his actions as a private in the 12th Service Battalion, The East York Regiment, British Army on November 13, 1916 at the Battle of the Ancre (the final offensive of the Battle of the Somme), France, during World War I. Born in Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, England, he enlisted in the British Army following the outbreak of World War I in July 1914 and was sent to the Western Front in France where he won the Victoria Cross for gallantry. He died in Kingston-upon-Hull, East Yorkshire, England at the age of 43. His Victoria Cross citation reads: "On 13 November 1916, the opening day of the Battle of the Ancre (the final offensive of the Battle of the Somme), attacking from opposite Hebuterne the 31st Division was to seize the German trenches and form a defensive flank north of Serre. After the enemy's front line had been captured, Private Cunningham went with a bombing section up a communication trench where much opposition was met and all the rest of the section were either killed or wounded. Collecting all the bombs from the casualties Private Cunningham went on alone and when he had used up all the bombs he had he returned for a fresh supply and again went up the communication trench where he met a party of 10 Germans. He killed all 10 and cleared the trench up to the new line." In addition to the Victoria Cross, he received the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal (1914-20), the Victory Medal (1914-19), and the King George VI Coronation Medal (1937). His Victoria Cross and other medals are on display at the York Army Museum in York, North Yorkshire, England.
*****This is the family grave and he is remembered here but was buried in a unmarked grave
Compartment No17509 plot 180 *****
*****This is the family grave and he is remembered here but was buried in a unmarked grave
Compartment No17509 plot 180 *****
World War I Victoria Cross Recipient. He received the award from British King George V in July 1917 at Hyde park in London, England for his actions as a private in the 12th Service Battalion, The East York Regiment, British Army on November 13, 1916 at the Battle of the Ancre (the final offensive of the Battle of the Somme), France, during World War I. Born in Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, England, he enlisted in the British Army following the outbreak of World War I in July 1914 and was sent to the Western Front in France where he won the Victoria Cross for gallantry. He died in Kingston-upon-Hull, East Yorkshire, England at the age of 43. His Victoria Cross citation reads: "On 13 November 1916, the opening day of the Battle of the Ancre (the final offensive of the Battle of the Somme), attacking from opposite Hebuterne the 31st Division was to seize the German trenches and form a defensive flank north of Serre. After the enemy's front line had been captured, Private Cunningham went with a bombing section up a communication trench where much opposition was met and all the rest of the section were either killed or wounded. Collecting all the bombs from the casualties Private Cunningham went on alone and when he had used up all the bombs he had he returned for a fresh supply and again went up the communication trench where he met a party of 10 Germans. He killed all 10 and cleared the trench up to the new line." In addition to the Victoria Cross, he received the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal (1914-20), the Victory Medal (1914-19), and the King George VI Coronation Medal (1937). His Victoria Cross and other medals are on display at the York Army Museum in York, North Yorkshire, England.
*****This is the family grave and he is remembered here but was buried in a unmarked grave
Compartment No17509 plot 180 *****
*****This is the family grave and he is remembered here but was buried in a unmarked grave
Compartment No17509 plot 180 *****
Bio by: William Bjornstad
Inscription
To
the memory of
Mary Ann
Cunningham
died 8th. July 1932, aged 69 yrs
Also her beloved husband
Charles
died 18th. June 1949, aged 89 yrs
Their sons
Jack (V.C.)
died 20th. Feb. 1941, aged 43 yrs
Matthew
died 8th. Feb. 1951, aged 51 yrs
R.I.P.
Family Members
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