Branch of Service

Army

Conflict

World War I (1914-1918)

Date of Enlistment

28/08/1914

Date of Discharge

10/07/1919

Place of Enlistment

Sydney NSW

Gender

Male

Date of Birth

12/09/1891

Place of Birth

Tuggeranong (Tuggranong) ACT

Address (at enlistment)

Tuggeranong ACT

School(s) Attended

Sydney University

Occupation

Pastoralist

Next of Kin

James Cunningham (father), Tuggeranong ACT

Service Number

359

Final Rank

Captain

Final Unit

4 Light Horse Brigade Machine Gun Squadron

Military Cross (Commonwealth of Australia Gazette: 4 October 1917, page 2626, position 90), Mentioned In Despatches

Cunningham fought at Gallipoli with the 1st Light Horse Regiment and was wounded in August 1915 at Popes Hill. After returning to Egypt he was commissioned as a lieutenant in the 2nd Light Horse Brigade and attached to the 2nd Machine Gun Squadron. He excelled during the fighting at Romani in the Sinai in August 1916; his daring earning his crew the the nickname of the 'Kelly Gang'. He was promoted to the rank of captain in February 1917 and led the 2nd Machine Gun Squadron during the 1st Battle of Gaza in March 1917. He was awarded the Military Cross in June 1917 and Mentioned in Despatches in July 1917.

In August 1918 he transferred to the 4th Light Horse Brigade Machine Gun Squadron and took part in the capture of Semakh. He was recommended for, but not awarded, the Military Cross because; "at Semakh on September 25th 1918, Capt. Cunningham was in charge of 8 guns. When he received orders, he brought the guns into action with great skill. Throughout the advance he showed absolute disregard of all danger. On arriving at the town, he took charge of 4 guns and handled them with great courage. Throughout the action he was conspicuous for his gallantry and devotion to duty."

After the war Cunningham owned Lanyon, Orroral and Top Naas. He became known as a daring pilot particularly when flying his plane, nicknamed the 'Orroral Dingo', around the district. He died on 20 August 1959 at Randwick.

Description - height 5 feet 10 inches, weight 164 pounds, chest 34-38 inches, florid complexion, eyes blue, hair dark brown, Church of England.

Rex Cross, 'Bygone Queanbeyan', 1980
Jennifer Horsfield, 'Mary Cunningham: An Australian Life', 2004
Bruce Moore, 'Lanyon Saga', 1982
National Library of Australia : Country Women's Association of NSW (Canberra Branch) History, 1959 (manuscript call no. NLA MS 734)
Queanbeyan Age - 17 August 1915, 23 November 1915, 21 September 1917, 15 July 1919
AWM Collections Records: P00026.001, P00026.002
AWM Honours & Awards
NAA RecordSearch - Series B2455 (First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920)