William Henry Dick-Cunyngham
Lieutenant (later Lieutenant-Colonel), The Gordon Highlanders
- Register No.
- 288 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Lieutenant (later Lieutenant-Colonel) (register: Lieutenant) all Lieutenants →
- Unit
- The Gordon Highlanders (register: 92nd Regiment of Foot) all 92nd Regiment of Foot VCs →
- Date of action
- 13 December 1879 on this day → all of 1879 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Second Afghan War
- London Gazette
- : 18th October, 1881 on this day → all of 1881 →
- Born
- 16th June 1851 at Prestonfield, Edinburgh
- Died
- 6th January 1900 at Ladysmith, Natal, South Africa
- Memorial / grave
- Old Windsor Cemetery, Berkshire and on the South Africa War Memorial, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
Digest of citation
On 30th December 1879 during the attack on the Sherpur Pass, * There was a momentary wavering of the troops who had been beaten back at the top of the hill. Lieutenant Dick-Cunyngham rushed forward and gallantly exposed himself to the full fire being poured upon this point. He rallied the men by his example and cheering words, and calling on those near to follow him, charged into the middle of the enemy
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
DICK-CUNYNGHAM William Henry . (reg No. 288).
Lieutenant (later Lieutenant-Colonel). The Gordon Highlanders.
Gazetted: 18th October, 1881.
Born on 16th June 1851 at Prestonfield, Edinburgh.
Died on 6th January 1900 at Ladysmith, Natal, South Africa.
Memorials at Old Windsor Cemetery, Berkshire and on the South Africa War Memorial, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire.
Digest of Citation reads: On 30th December 1879 during the attack on the Sherpur Pass, * There was a momentary wavering of the troops who had been beaten back at the top of the hill. Lieutenant Dick-Cunyngham rushed forward and gallantly exposed himself to the full fire being poured upon this point. He rallied the men by his example and cheering words, and calling on those near to follow him, charged into the middle of the enemy.
* Afghan war.
* Afghan war.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: Old Windsor Cemetery, Berkshire and on the South Africa War Memorial, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
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