John Cunningham
Corporal, 2nd Battalion, Prince of Wales Leinster Regiment
- Register No.
- 287 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Corporal all Corporals →
- Unit
- 2nd Battalion, Prince of Wales Leinster Regiment (register: Prince of Wales's Leinster Regiment) all Prince of Wales's Leinster Regiment VCs →
- Date of action
- 12 April 1917 on this day → all of 1917 →
- Conflict / campaign
- First World War
- London Gazette
- 8th June, 1917 on this day → all of 1917 →
- Born
- 22nd October, 1890 at Thurles, Tipperary, Ireland
- Award
- Posthumous all posthumous VCs →
- Memorial / grave
- at Barlin Communal Cemetery, France and in St Mary's Church, Thurles, Tipperary, Ireland
Digest of citation
On 12th April, 1917 at Bois-en-Hache, near Barlin, France, Corporal Cunningham was in command of a Lewis gun section which came under a very heavy enfilade fire. Although wounded, he succeeded, almost alone, in reaching the objective with his gun which he got into action in spite of much opposition. When counter-attacked by a party of 20 Germans, he exhausted his ammunition against them and then started throwing bombs. He was wounded again and fell, but picked himself up and continued to fight single-handed with the enemy until his bombs were finished. He later died from the effects of his wounds
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
CUNNINGHAM, John. (reg No. 287).
Corporal. 2nd Battalion, Prince of Wales Leinster Regiment.
London Gazetted on 8th June, 1917.
Born on 22nd October, 1890 at Thurles, Tipperary, Ireland.
Died of his wounds on 16th April, 1917 at Barlin, France.
Memorial on grave at Barlin Communal Cemetery, France and in St Mary's Church, Thurles, Tipperary, Ireland.
Digest of Citation reads: On 12th April, 1917 at Bois-en-Hache, near Barlin, France, Corporal Cunningham was in command of a Lewis gun section which came under a very heavy enfilade fire. Although wounded, he succeeded, almost alone, in reaching the objective with his gun which he got into action in spite of much opposition. When counter-attacked by a party of 20 Germans, he exhausted his ammunition against them and then started throwing bombs. He was wounded again and fell, but picked himself up and continued to fight single-handed with the enemy until his bombs were finished. He later died from the effects of his wounds.
Died of his wounds on 16th April, 1917 at Barlin, France.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: at Barlin Communal Cemetery, France and in St Mary's Church, Thurles, Tipperary, Ireland
Map links open a search for the place name Alf recorded; please check opening times and exact locations before travelling. Many VC graves have since been restored by the Victoria Cross Trust.
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