Service No: 9/689. Age: 25. Regiment/Service: Otago Regiment, N.Z.E.F., 2nd Bn.
Honours: Military Medal (MM), Mentioned in Despatches (MiD).
James Thomas Chalmers Cunningham enlisted 18 August 1914 in The Otago Mounted Rifles for the duration of the war. He embarked for the Dardanelles on 3rd August 1915 but by Nov. he was in hospital in Mudros, Lemnos with influenza. He re-joined his unit and spent the next month at Anzac until he disembarked at Alexandria, Egypt on Christmas Day 1915. In March of 1916 he transferred to the Otago Infantry Regiment and was posted to the 10th Coy., 2nd Battalion. In April, 1916 he embarked for France on the 'Llandovery Castle'. On 20th May he was promoted to Company Sergeant Major in the field. For a period in May he was posted to HQ of the N.Z. Division as a Warrant Officer (Class 2). On the 20th January, 1917 he reverted in rank to sergeant at his own request. During July he appears to have been sent to a rest house and was admitted to hospital sick. By 1st September he had re-joined the Battalion in France. He was wounded in action during the 3rd Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele) near Bellevue Spur. This probably occurred on the 'black day' of the 12th October. James was one of the fortunate ones to be evacuated by the N.Z. Field Ambulance to the No 44 Coy. 3 Clearing Station. He died here of a gun-shot wound and fracture to his right thigh on the 14th October, 1917. He was awarded the 1914/1915 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. He won the Military Medal and was Mentioned in Despatches.
Military Medal: Operations Gravenstafel - 29th September and 1st October to 5th October 1917. For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. Near Aviatak Farm on the night of the 29th/30th September 1917, he, with splendid courage and fine coolness, under heavy enemy shelling, established himself in a good position on the slope of the hill. He was regardless of personal safety and the courageous example displayed by him was a marked factor in maintaining the coolness and steadiness of the Platoon of which he had a Command. His handling of the platoon was exceptionally good and his fine bearing and personal influence was instrumental in avoiding casualties. London Gazette 17 December 1917, p.13201, Rec No 1314.
Mentioned in Despatches: Operations Messines - 7th June 1917, and Operations La Basse Ville sector 3rd/4th August 1917. On the 7th June during the attack on Messines when his Platoon Commander had been wounded, this non-commissioned officer re-organised his men under very heavy shellfire, and gallantly lead then forward to attack. Later, when consolidating a captured position, he set a splendid example to his men by his coolness and untiring devotion to duty. Again on the night of the 3rd/4th August 1917, in the La Basse Ville sector, when in command of a detachment of 20 men, acting as a covering patrol to a wiring party, he successfully led his men through an intense enemy barrage and patrolled the front for a period of four hours again showing remarkable coolness and courage in an exposed and exceedingly dangerous position. London Gazette 28 December 1917, p.13575, Rec No 1170.
PERSONALS
Mr James Cunningham, of Sydenham, has received word that his son, Sergt. J. H. Cunningham, Otago Infantry, died of wounds on October 14. Sergt. Cunningham enlisted with the Main Body, but, owing to a slight illness, sailed with the 2nd Reinforcement. He was educated at the Oamaru South School and Waitaki High School, where he entered keenly into all sports. On leaving school he played football for Oamaru Old Boys, and then for the League code in Christchurch. Sergt. Cunningham was a member of the old North Otago Mounted Rifles. On the advent of the Territorial scheme, he became a member of B Squadron, 5th Regiment O.H., where he became a sergeant. Being in Christchurch at the outbreak of war, he at once resigned his position in T. Armstrong and Co., and joined his old regiment, with which he saw service on Gallipoli, and later transferred to the Infantry Expeditionary Force for France. He was awarded the Military Medal recently. [Sun (Christchurch), Volume IV, Issue 1162, 1 November 1917, Page 2]
Honours: Military Medal (MM), Mentioned in Despatches (MiD).
James Thomas Chalmers Cunningham enlisted 18 August 1914 in The Otago Mounted Rifles for the duration of the war. He embarked for the Dardanelles on 3rd August 1915 but by Nov. he was in hospital in Mudros, Lemnos with influenza. He re-joined his unit and spent the next month at Anzac until he disembarked at Alexandria, Egypt on Christmas Day 1915. In March of 1916 he transferred to the Otago Infantry Regiment and was posted to the 10th Coy., 2nd Battalion. In April, 1916 he embarked for France on the 'Llandovery Castle'. On 20th May he was promoted to Company Sergeant Major in the field. For a period in May he was posted to HQ of the N.Z. Division as a Warrant Officer (Class 2). On the 20th January, 1917 he reverted in rank to sergeant at his own request. During July he appears to have been sent to a rest house and was admitted to hospital sick. By 1st September he had re-joined the Battalion in France. He was wounded in action during the 3rd Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele) near Bellevue Spur. This probably occurred on the 'black day' of the 12th October. James was one of the fortunate ones to be evacuated by the N.Z. Field Ambulance to the No 44 Coy. 3 Clearing Station. He died here of a gun-shot wound and fracture to his right thigh on the 14th October, 1917. He was awarded the 1914/1915 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. He won the Military Medal and was Mentioned in Despatches.
Military Medal: Operations Gravenstafel - 29th September and 1st October to 5th October 1917. For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. Near Aviatak Farm on the night of the 29th/30th September 1917, he, with splendid courage and fine coolness, under heavy enemy shelling, established himself in a good position on the slope of the hill. He was regardless of personal safety and the courageous example displayed by him was a marked factor in maintaining the coolness and steadiness of the Platoon of which he had a Command. His handling of the platoon was exceptionally good and his fine bearing and personal influence was instrumental in avoiding casualties. London Gazette 17 December 1917, p.13201, Rec No 1314.
Mentioned in Despatches: Operations Messines - 7th June 1917, and Operations La Basse Ville sector 3rd/4th August 1917. On the 7th June during the attack on Messines when his Platoon Commander had been wounded, this non-commissioned officer re-organised his men under very heavy shellfire, and gallantly lead then forward to attack. Later, when consolidating a captured position, he set a splendid example to his men by his coolness and untiring devotion to duty. Again on the night of the 3rd/4th August 1917, in the La Basse Ville sector, when in command of a detachment of 20 men, acting as a covering patrol to a wiring party, he successfully led his men through an intense enemy barrage and patrolled the front for a period of four hours again showing remarkable coolness and courage in an exposed and exceedingly dangerous position. London Gazette 28 December 1917, p.13575, Rec No 1170.
PERSONALS
Mr James Cunningham, of Sydenham, has received word that his son, Sergt. J. H. Cunningham, Otago Infantry, died of wounds on October 14. Sergt. Cunningham enlisted with the Main Body, but, owing to a slight illness, sailed with the 2nd Reinforcement. He was educated at the Oamaru South School and Waitaki High School, where he entered keenly into all sports. On leaving school he played football for Oamaru Old Boys, and then for the League code in Christchurch. Sergt. Cunningham was a member of the old North Otago Mounted Rifles. On the advent of the Territorial scheme, he became a member of B Squadron, 5th Regiment O.H., where he became a sergeant. Being in Christchurch at the outbreak of war, he at once resigned his position in T. Armstrong and Co., and joined his old regiment, with which he saw service on Gallipoli, and later transferred to the Infantry Expeditionary Force for France. He was awarded the Military Medal recently. [Sun (Christchurch), Volume IV, Issue 1162, 1 November 1917, Page 2]
Service No: 9/689. Age: 25. Regiment/Service: Otago Regiment, N.Z.E.F., 2nd Bn.
Honours: Military Medal (MM), Mentioned in Despatches (MiD).
James Thomas Chalmers Cunningham enlisted 18 August 1914 in The Otago Mounted Rifles for the duration of the war. He embarked for the Dardanelles on 3rd August 1915 but by Nov. he was in hospital in Mudros, Lemnos with influenza. He re-joined his unit and spent the next month at Anzac until he disembarked at Alexandria, Egypt on Christmas Day 1915. In March of 1916 he transferred to the Otago Infantry Regiment and was posted to the 10th Coy., 2nd Battalion. In April, 1916 he embarked for France on the 'Llandovery Castle'. On 20th May he was promoted to Company Sergeant Major in the field. For a period in May he was posted to HQ of the N.Z. Division as a Warrant Officer (Class 2). On the 20th January, 1917 he reverted in rank to sergeant at his own request. During July he appears to have been sent to a rest house and was admitted to hospital sick. By 1st September he had re-joined the Battalion in France. He was wounded in action during the 3rd Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele) near Bellevue Spur. This probably occurred on the 'black day' of the 12th October. James was one of the fortunate ones to be evacuated by the N.Z. Field Ambulance to the No 44 Coy. 3 Clearing Station. He died here of a gun-shot wound and fracture to his right thigh on the 14th October, 1917. He was awarded the 1914/1915 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. He won the Military Medal and was Mentioned in Despatches.
Military Medal: Operations Gravenstafel - 29th September and 1st October to 5th October 1917. For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. Near Aviatak Farm on the night of the 29th/30th September 1917, he, with splendid courage and fine coolness, under heavy enemy shelling, established himself in a good position on the slope of the hill. He was regardless of personal safety and the courageous example displayed by him was a marked factor in maintaining the coolness and steadiness of the Platoon of which he had a Command. His handling of the platoon was exceptionally good and his fine bearing and personal influence was instrumental in avoiding casualties. London Gazette 17 December 1917, p.13201, Rec No 1314.
Mentioned in Despatches: Operations Messines - 7th June 1917, and Operations La Basse Ville sector 3rd/4th August 1917. On the 7th June during the attack on Messines when his Platoon Commander had been wounded, this non-commissioned officer re-organised his men under very heavy shellfire, and gallantly lead then forward to attack. Later, when consolidating a captured position, he set a splendid example to his men by his coolness and untiring devotion to duty. Again on the night of the 3rd/4th August 1917, in the La Basse Ville sector, when in command of a detachment of 20 men, acting as a covering patrol to a wiring party, he successfully led his men through an intense enemy barrage and patrolled the front for a period of four hours again showing remarkable coolness and courage in an exposed and exceedingly dangerous position. London Gazette 28 December 1917, p.13575, Rec No 1170.
PERSONALS
Mr James Cunningham, of Sydenham, has received word that his son, Sergt. J. H. Cunningham, Otago Infantry, died of wounds on October 14. Sergt. Cunningham enlisted with the Main Body, but, owing to a slight illness, sailed with the 2nd Reinforcement. He was educated at the Oamaru South School and Waitaki High School, where he entered keenly into all sports. On leaving school he played football for Oamaru Old Boys, and then for the League code in Christchurch. Sergt. Cunningham was a member of the old North Otago Mounted Rifles. On the advent of the Territorial scheme, he became a member of B Squadron, 5th Regiment O.H., where he became a sergeant. Being in Christchurch at the outbreak of war, he at once resigned his position in T. Armstrong and Co., and joined his old regiment, with which he saw service on Gallipoli, and later transferred to the Infantry Expeditionary Force for France. He was awarded the Military Medal recently. [Sun (Christchurch), Volume IV, Issue 1162, 1 November 1917, Page 2]
Honours: Military Medal (MM), Mentioned in Despatches (MiD).
James Thomas Chalmers Cunningham enlisted 18 August 1914 in The Otago Mounted Rifles for the duration of the war. He embarked for the Dardanelles on 3rd August 1915 but by Nov. he was in hospital in Mudros, Lemnos with influenza. He re-joined his unit and spent the next month at Anzac until he disembarked at Alexandria, Egypt on Christmas Day 1915. In March of 1916 he transferred to the Otago Infantry Regiment and was posted to the 10th Coy., 2nd Battalion. In April, 1916 he embarked for France on the 'Llandovery Castle'. On 20th May he was promoted to Company Sergeant Major in the field. For a period in May he was posted to HQ of the N.Z. Division as a Warrant Officer (Class 2). On the 20th January, 1917 he reverted in rank to sergeant at his own request. During July he appears to have been sent to a rest house and was admitted to hospital sick. By 1st September he had re-joined the Battalion in France. He was wounded in action during the 3rd Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele) near Bellevue Spur. This probably occurred on the 'black day' of the 12th October. James was one of the fortunate ones to be evacuated by the N.Z. Field Ambulance to the No 44 Coy. 3 Clearing Station. He died here of a gun-shot wound and fracture to his right thigh on the 14th October, 1917. He was awarded the 1914/1915 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. He won the Military Medal and was Mentioned in Despatches.
Military Medal: Operations Gravenstafel - 29th September and 1st October to 5th October 1917. For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. Near Aviatak Farm on the night of the 29th/30th September 1917, he, with splendid courage and fine coolness, under heavy enemy shelling, established himself in a good position on the slope of the hill. He was regardless of personal safety and the courageous example displayed by him was a marked factor in maintaining the coolness and steadiness of the Platoon of which he had a Command. His handling of the platoon was exceptionally good and his fine bearing and personal influence was instrumental in avoiding casualties. London Gazette 17 December 1917, p.13201, Rec No 1314.
Mentioned in Despatches: Operations Messines - 7th June 1917, and Operations La Basse Ville sector 3rd/4th August 1917. On the 7th June during the attack on Messines when his Platoon Commander had been wounded, this non-commissioned officer re-organised his men under very heavy shellfire, and gallantly lead then forward to attack. Later, when consolidating a captured position, he set a splendid example to his men by his coolness and untiring devotion to duty. Again on the night of the 3rd/4th August 1917, in the La Basse Ville sector, when in command of a detachment of 20 men, acting as a covering patrol to a wiring party, he successfully led his men through an intense enemy barrage and patrolled the front for a period of four hours again showing remarkable coolness and courage in an exposed and exceedingly dangerous position. London Gazette 28 December 1917, p.13575, Rec No 1170.
PERSONALS
Mr James Cunningham, of Sydenham, has received word that his son, Sergt. J. H. Cunningham, Otago Infantry, died of wounds on October 14. Sergt. Cunningham enlisted with the Main Body, but, owing to a slight illness, sailed with the 2nd Reinforcement. He was educated at the Oamaru South School and Waitaki High School, where he entered keenly into all sports. On leaving school he played football for Oamaru Old Boys, and then for the League code in Christchurch. Sergt. Cunningham was a member of the old North Otago Mounted Rifles. On the advent of the Territorial scheme, he became a member of B Squadron, 5th Regiment O.H., where he became a sergeant. Being in Christchurch at the outbreak of war, he at once resigned his position in T. Armstrong and Co., and joined his old regiment, with which he saw service on Gallipoli, and later transferred to the Infantry Expeditionary Force for France. He was awarded the Military Medal recently. [Sun (Christchurch), Volume IV, Issue 1162, 1 November 1917, Page 2]
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Records on Ancestry
Advertisement
