Michael Cunningham

Submitted by Mt Kembla Minin... on Wed, 28/12/2016 - 10:04

First Name:

Michael

Last Name:

Cunningham

Mother's Name:

Ellen Cunningham

Father's Name:

James Cunningham

Date Enlisted:

Thursday, August 17, 1916

Rank at Enlistment:

Private

Rank at Discharge:

Private

Unit:

18th Battalion

Service:

Infantry

Awards:

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Date of Death:

Friday, June 8, 1956

Details:

Michael Cunningham was born in Armidale, N.S.W. around 1886. In 1913 Michael married Kate Cain.

At enlistment Michael was 30 years old, employed as a miner and the family lived at Unanderra, N.S.W. He embarked from Sydney on HMAT A11 Ascanius with 17th Reinforcements, 18th Battalion on 25th October 1916.

The troops arrived in England on 28th December 1916 and Michael was sent on to France, arriving on 28th February 1917.

Michael saw service on the Western Front until he was wounded in action on 3rd May 1917. His papers have do details of his injury and he was back with his unit on 20th May.

On 20th September the 18th Battalion was fighting in Belgium on the Menin Road when Michael was wounded a second time and evacuated to hospital in England with severe shrapnel wounds to his left thigh.

He returned to his unit on 9th March 1918 and served until he was wounded a third time on 12th April 1918 and again evacuated to hospital in England, this time for treatment of a gun shot wound to his left hand.

Michael was returned to Australia in September 1918 and discharged after further treatment on 20th February 1919.

Michael died in 1956 and is buried in Botany Cemetery, Sydney.

Sources:

NAA: B2455, CUNNINGHAM M