CUNNINGHAM, John
| Other Name: | Shields, John |
|---|---|
| Service Number: | 3964 |
| Enlisted: | 30 December 1915, Enlisted under the alias John Shields. While in France, on the 24.6.16,notified Army of his real name |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | 28th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Ayr, Scotland, 1875 |
| Home Town: | Boulder, Kalgoorlie/Boulder, Western Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Woodcutter |
| Died: | Wounds, United Kingdom, 9 September 1918 |
| Cemetery: |
Birmingham (Lodge Hill) Cemetery, Warwickshire, England Grave 545 Section B10 non-conformist portion |
| Memorials: | Fremantle Scots Church Memorial To The Fallen, Kings Park Western Australia State War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 30 Dec 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3964, 28th Infantry Battalion, Enlisted under the alias John Shields. While in France, on the 24.6.16,notified Army of his real name | |
|---|---|---|
| 12 Feb 1916: | Involvement Private, 3964, 28th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '16' embarkation_place: Fremantle embarkation_ship: HMAT Miltiades embarkation_ship_number: A28 public_note: '' | |
| 12 Feb 1916: | Embarked Private, 3964, 28th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Miltiades, Fremantle | |
| 3 May 1917: | Wounded AIF WW1, Sergeant, 3964, Multiple wounds in action, transferred to England. Rejoined in France on 15.6.18 | |
| 11 Aug 1918: | Wounded AIF WW1, Sergeant, 3964, Remained on duty. | |
| 2 Sep 1918: | Wounded AIF WW1, Sergeant, 3964, Multiple shell wounds, transferred to England |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Helen Harmer
Jack originally enlisted under the alias John Shields. He was born in Ayr, Scotland in 1875. He married Annie in Ayr, Scotland on the 26.6.1896. They were legally separated in 1913, and she was granted custody of the 2 girls, with maintenance to be paid. At enlistment on the 30.12.1915 at Blackboy Hill, he was a woodcutter whose postal address was Kurramia Woodline, W.A. He was Presbyterian and aged 40 years 4 months. Jack was described as being 5 feet 9½ inches tall with a chest measurement of 36-38 inches, dark complexion, blue eyes and black hair. Initially, his sister Margaret Reilaghin of Threadneedle St, Greymouth New Zealand was listed as his next of kin, then he changed it to his daughters Margaret & Agnes Cunningham of William St, Fremantle.
He had 5 years previous service with the 2nd Volunteer Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers. Jack was appointed to the 28th Infantry Battalion B Coy as a Private with Service Number 3964. He embarked from Fremantle on the 12.2.16 on HMAT Miltiades A28. After being punished for being absent without leave in September 1916, Jack assumed his correct name in France on the 24.10.1916.
Jack was appointed Temporary Corporal on 26.12.16, then Corporal on the 18.1.17, Temporary Sergeant on the 26.1.17 and Sergeant on the 6.3.17. He received multiple wounds in action on the 3.5.17 and was transferred to England.
He rejoined his battalion on the 15.6.18 in France and was wounded for the second time on the 11.8.18 but remained on duty. He was wounded for the third time on the 2.9.18 and was transferred to England, where he died of multiple shell wounds on the 9.9.18 in Birmingham Hospital. Jack was buried in a Military funeral on the 13.9.1918 in Lodge Hill Cemetery, Birmingham, Grave 545 Section B10 non-conformist portion. A Firing Party, Bugler and Pallbearers attended the burial service conducted at the graveside by Rev DJ Moir-Porteous BD. The coffin was draped in the Union Jack.
His will left his belongings to Dorothy Clements, his de facto wife in Weymouth, England - but correspondence to her was returned unclaimed. Ultimately his widow, separated but not divorced, Annie Cunningham of Scottish House, Phillimore St, Fremantle was sent his war medals. Annie died on the 25.10.1935 aged 59 and was buried in Fremantle Cemetery, Presbyterian Portion Mon EE, grave 0706. Her headstone honours John and his service.
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