CUNNINGHAM,VC.
A brave feat, he attacked 10 WW1 German troops single handedly and killed all 10.
All VC awards are posted on the internet with a citation record, see below for citation.
In the 1940 period my father used to say (this is hearsay and may not be correct) John came back to Hull a VC hero, bought a horse and cart, painted on the back of it Cunninham VC, Metal dealer, Hull. and went out tatting. He had a habit of getting drunk whilst in charge of an horse and cart but he would not be arrested because ' after all he was a VC'.
Firms loved dealing with him as the VC carried a lot of weight in 1918 -1938, as it does today. I think he died quiet young, There's a school he attended of Holderness Road, Hull, which contains a plaque for him as 'one of the old Boys and a VC Winner'. See Wiki ; quote as follows.
*John Cunningham VC (28 June 1897 – 21 February 1941) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. John was born in Swains Yard off Manley Street, Scunthorpe and was the eldest son of Charles and Mary Cunningham. Cunningham was 19 years old, and a private in the 12th (Service) Battalion, (the Hull Sportsmen's Pals battalion), The East Yorkshire Regiment, 31st Division during the First World War, at the Battle of the Somme, when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC. On 13 November 1916, the opening day of the Battle of the Ancre (the final offensive of the Battle of the Somme), attacking from opposite Hebuterne the 31st Division was to seize the German trenches and form a defensive flank north of Serre. After the enemy's front line had been captured, Private Cunningham went with a bombing section up a communication trench where much opposition was met and all the rest of the section were either killed or wounded. Collecting all the bombs from the casualties Private Cunningham went on alone and when he had used up all the bombs he had he returned for a fresh supply and again went up the communication trench where he met a party of 10 Germans. He killed all 10 and cleared the trench up to the new line.
His Victoria Cross is displayed at York Regimental Museum, England.
John was married to Eva Harrison in Jun 1917 at Hull and had two children, Annie who died in infancy and John who was born in 1920 at Hull. John Cunningham died 20 February 1941 at 5 Beaufort Terrace Campbell Street Hull aged 43 years and his funeral took place in Hull on 24 February 1941, John is buried in grave No: 17509, compartment No; 180 at the Western Cemetery Hull.
** Pathe New are selling a vidoo of him with his family for £30.00 'see Pathe wwwsite.
** Hull Victoria Cross Winners Memorial (Photos of memorial)
Private John Cunningham VC
2nd Lieutenant John Harrison VC MC
Boatswain John Sheppard VC CGM
Sergeant William Bernard Traynor VC
EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT / SEE . HULLS PALS /
The Hull Pals won two Victoria Crosses in the First World War. They were awarded to Pte John Cunningham of the Hull Sportsmen battalion on the 13th November 1916 for his heroic actions in the Battle of the Somme and 2nd Lt. John Harrison of the Hull Tradesmen in Oppy, France on the 3 May 1917. 2nd Lt. John Harrison was tragically killed in the assault that led to his award. His wife Lillian was presented with his Victoria Cross at Buckingham Palace by King George V in 1918.
