Joseph Cunningham
Birth 15 February 1898 Death 12th Dec 1917 PvtNorthumberland Fusiliers
Service #27/852
| GRO Ref | 27/852 |
|---|---|
| Place of Birth | Mullartown , Co Down |
| Residence at Enlistment | Bowthorn Road , Cleator Moor |
| Residence (Roll of Honour) | Mullartown, Annalong, Co Down |
| Residence 1911 Census | Mullartown, Annalong, Co Down |
| School(s) Attended | |
| Religion/Church Attended | R.C. |
| Organisation Membership | |
| Employment/Trade | Furnace Worker |
| Place of Work | Whitehaven Haematite Iron and Steel Co., Cleator Moor |
| Family (Parents and Grandparents) | Charles and Mary Margaret Cunningham |
| Siblings | Bernard, Charles, James, Henry, William John, George , Hubert, Mary, Annie, Elizabeth and Alice. |
| Wife's Name and Maiden Name | |
| Remarriage of Widow | |
| Children's Christian Name(s) | |
| Family Connection to Roll of Honour |
| Regiment at Enlistment | Northumberland Fusiliers |
|---|---|
| Battalion at Enlistment | 4th Tyneside Irish 27th (service) |
| Rank at Enlistment | Pvt |
| Naval Vessels Served | |
| Service Number at Enlistment | 27/852 |
| Date of Enlistment | 21 December 1914 |
| Place of Enlistment | Cleator Moor |
| Other Regiment | |
| Other Battalion | |
| Other Rank | |
| Date of Transfer to other Regiment | |
| Service Facts | Joe was wounded on first day of the Somme as indicated in his personal communication but this is recorded in military records as taking place in September 1916. Again, according to his personal accounts, after recovering in hospital in Epsom, he arrived back in France 19 September 1916 to resume duties and was not wounded that month. It is generally accepted that various dates over the following couple of months have been recorded for casualties of 1 July 1916. The D.C.M. was awarded to J Cunningham for gallantry in the field in the face of the enemy. J Cunningham was also entitled to use the letters D.C.M. after his name. Bars were awarded to recipients of the D.C.M. in recognition of the performance of further acts of gallantry meriting the award. Conferment of the D.C.M. gallantry award was announced in the London Gazette and accompanied by a citation. Joe's citation for the DCM is attributed to his actions dated 12 October 1917, at Poelcappelle . It was gazetted on 4 March 1918 . The citation notes that he continually visited the men of his company while under heavy shell fire, cheering and encouraging them . Later on that day when enemy snipers were active ,he organised a party of men and took them up to positions in front of the line from where they carried out successful sniping operations against the enemy , thus preventing many more of his men becoming casualties . It concludes his personal example and disregard of danger were an inspiration to all his men. |
| Battalion Diary or Nautical Facts |
| Age at Death | 21 |
|---|---|
| Date of Death | 12th Dec 1917 |
| Regiment at Death | Northumberland Fusiliers |
| Battalion/Vessel at Death | 24th/27th |
| Rank at Death | Company Sergeant Major |
| Circumstances of Death | Died of Wounds (Accidental) |
| Service Number at Death | 27/852 |
| Field of Action at Death | France |
| Place of Death | In reserve to 34th Division at Henin Camp according to war diary |
| Battle at Death | |
| Grave/Memorial Image |
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| Location of Grave/Memorial | LONDON CEMETERY, NEUVILLE-VITASSE |
| Grave Position | III. D. 7. |
| Commonwealth War Graves Commission Link | https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/285309/cunningham,-/ |
| Grave/Memorial Country | France |
| Private Memorial | St Marys RC Church Cleator WW1 memorial |
| Notes | Also remembered on the Kilkeel Shomberg society World War One Roll of Honour , see link below |
|---|---|
| Link #1 | https://schombergsociety.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Batch-3.pdf |