1914-15 Star (1602 Pte W. Cunningham, A. & S. Highrs.)

Commissioned from the ranks: Appointed 2nd Lieutenant . Royal Irish Fusiliers, 17 December 1917

Wounded-in-Action: When holding the rank of Sergeant and serving with 1/7th Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, William Cunningham was wounded on 'The Somme' at Beaumont Hamel, France, in November 1916

Killed-in-Action: 2nd Lieutenant William Cunningham 4th (Reserve) Battalion Royal Irish Fusiliers attached to 1st Battalion Royal Irish Fusiliers & 7th Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders) confirmed 'Killed-in-Action', Flanders, Belgium, 1 October 1918

Hill 41, Flanders, Belgium: At 6.15am on 1 October 1918, 1st Battalion The Royal Irish Fusiliers attacked Hill 41. Heavy resistance was met from machine gun and trench mortar, but Twig Farm was captured, and a line was established north and south of that location. The battalion suffered very heavy casualties. The enemy attempted two further counter attacks. After severe fighting the counterattack was fought off by C Company but at the cost of many further casualties. 2ndLt Cunningham, aged 27, was listed as killed that day.

William's bodily remains - only formally identified in 2024, almost 106 years after his death in battle - are commemorated in perpetuity by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission at the Dadizeele New British Cemetery located in Belgium, where a headstone engraved with his name and service details together with the regimental badge of the Royal Irish Fusiliers marks his grave 

Important: The body of 2nd Lieutenant William Cunningham, was only formally identified, and his remains buried in a re-dedication ceremony in 2024 - 106 years after his death during the '100 Days Campaign', the final push to allied victory

The below following account of the re-dedication burial ceremony was published by the Ministry of Defence, Veterans Affairs, on 10 July 2024:

Quote,

The graves of Second Lieutenant (2ndLt) Joseph Bryson MC and 2ndLt William Cunningham have been identified side by side in a cemetery in Belgium more than an century after their deaths.

A rededication service was held today, 10 July 2024, at the soldiers’ gravesides in Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC), Dadizeele New British Cemetery. The service was organised by the MOD’s Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (JCCC), also known as the ‘MOD War Detectives’, and was attended by serving soldiers of The Royal Irish Regiment.
 
JCCC Caseworker,Rosie Barron, said: 

“Both 2ndLt Bryson and 2ndLt Cunningham had been fighting on the Western Front since 1914 and were commissioned shortly before their deaths. These were two very capable professional soldiers who would have known that the end of the war was in sight, and yet continued to do their duty to the end. It has been an honour to organise this rededication service today and to see their sacrifice honoured.”

Joseph Bryson arrived on the Western Front on 11 November 1914. He was awarded the Belgian Croix de Guerre in April 1918, and the Military Cross on 25 September 1918. 

By October 1918 the static fighting associated with the Western Front had ended, and allied forces were advancing eastwards. On 6 October 1918, 2ndLt Bryson was killed by a shell while on patrol, aged 30. His body fell behind enemy lines but was recovered 7 days later and buried nearby. 

William Cunningham arrived on the Western Front on 15 December 1914. He was Commissioned into 4th Battalion The Royal Irish Fusiliers in 1918 and attached attached to 1st Battalion. On 1 October 1918, 1st Battalion The Royal Irish Fusiliers attacked Hill 41. Heavy resistance was met, but Twig Farm was captured, and a line was established north and south of the location. The battalion suffered very heavy casualties, and 2ndLt Cunningham was among those killed, aged 27.

After the war, the remains of 2ndLt Bryson and 2ndLt Cunningham were recovered and buried next to each other in Dadizeele New British Cemetery as unknown second lieutenants. One of the sets of remains was found with medal ribbons – an invaluable clue which would help significantly with the identification of 2ndLt Bryson’s grave. As Bryson and Cunningham’s locations were known at the end of the war, they were commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial to the missing.  

More recently, a researcher submitted evidence to CWGC hoping to identify the final resting places of 2ndLt Bryson and 2ndLt Cunningham. Further investigation by CWGC, the National Army Museum and JCCC confirmed their findings. 

The service was conducted by the Reverend Jason Clarke MBE CF, Chaplain to 1st Battalion The Royal Irish Regiment. He said: 

“2ndLt Joseph Bryson was clearly a man of great courage, having shown his bravery in the cavalry charge of the Royal Irish Hussars, and had the notable honour of both a mention in dispatches and the Belgian Croix de Guerre, before his commission to The Royal Irish Fusiliers where he was once again honoured with the Military Cross. To receive such honours illustrates the qualities of a fine man, a bold leader and a courageous soldier.

2ndLt William Cunningham came through the ranks to become a leader in the 4th Battalion The Royal Irish Fusiliers. He demonstrated the qualities of one who could lead in the midst of war, and who stood with his men to the end of his life. His example inspires all who serve.”

The headstone over the grave was replaced by CWGC.Geer Bekaert, Area Director for the CWGC, said:

“Caring for the graves of 2ndLt Joseph Bryson MC and 2ndLt William Cunningham of The Royal Irish Fusiliers is both a privilege and an honour. The CWGC is unwavering in its dedication to ensuring that these servicemen, who made the ultimate sacrifice, are remembered with the utmost dignity and respect in perpetuity. Our commitment extends beyond the present, reaching into the future, where their memory will endure for generations to come.”

Unquote. 

Second Lieutenant William Cunningham 4th ( Reserve ) Battalion, attd. 1st Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers. He was killed in action in Belgium on the 1st October 1918 during the "Advance to Victory” aged 27. He had been born in Selkirk in 1891 and was the son of Alexandrina and the late James Cunningham of “Lauriston Cottage”, Ettrickhaugh Road, Selkirk and he is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Zonnebeke, Flanders, Belgium. He enlisted in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in 1914 and was wounded in the capture of Beaumont Hamel in November 1916. He was a Sergeant when he was commissioned as a second Lieutenant from an Officer Cadet Unit in December 1917

William Cunningham was born on 8 February 1891 in Selkirk, Scotland. He was the eldest of 4 children born to James Cunningham and his wife Alexandrina of Lauriston Cottage, Ettrickhaugh Road, Selkirk, Scotland. William enlisted into The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.

After the war, the un-identified remains of 2ndLt Cunningham were recovered and buried in Dadizeele New British Cemetery as an unknown Second Lieutenant. As he was originally listed as missing, he was commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial

The identification of his grave came about after a researcher submitted evidence to CWGC suggesting the location of his final resting place. Further research by CWGC, the National Army Museum and JCCC confirmed the findings and his grave was rededicated with a new Commission headstone on 10 July 2024 to be cared for in perpetuity.

Medal(s) Verification: Recipients entitlement to the 1914-15 Star together with companion British War and Interallied Victory Medals is confirmed per the below cited respective medal rolls:

- 1914-15 Star: WO 329/2814. Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders 15/12/14. Disch. to Comn 17/12/17
- British War Medal. Silver issue: WO 329/2254. Roll of Royal Irish Fusiliers 
- Interallied Victory Medal: WO 329/2254. Roll of Royal Irish Fusiliers 

A poignant - and highly desirable - medal to a Great War, Officer casualty

Condition: About EF

Code: 26157