William Joseph CUNNINGHAM

Regimental number11422
Date of birth25 April 1882
Place of birthMoss Vale, New South Wales, Australia
ReligionRoman Catholic
OccupationFarmer
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation33
Height5' 8"
Weight140 lbs
Next of kinFather, Thomas Cunningham, Ninth Avenue, Tauranga, Bay of Plenty
Previous military serviceNil
Enlistment date8 January 1916
Place of enlistmentTrentham
Rank on embarkationPrivate
Enlistment statusVolunteer
Unit nameNew Zealand Expeditionary Force, 12th Reinforcements (1st Draft), Auckland Infantry Battalion, A Company
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Wellington on board Ulimaroa on 1 May 1916
Final rankPrivate
Final unitNew Zealand Medical Corps
FateKilled in Action 12 October 1917
Place of burialNo known grave
Commemoration detailsTyne Cot Memorial (New Zealand Apse, Panel 9), Zonnebeke, Belgium
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Parents: Mr and Mrs T Cunningham, of Ninth Avenue, Cameron Road, Tauranga, Thames
Other details

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Embarked Wellington, 1 May 1916; disembarked Suez, 9 June 1916.

Embarked Alexandria, 26 July 1916; disembarked Southampton, England, 7 August 1916, and marched into Sling Camp.

Proceeded overseas to France, 28 August 1916; joined 2nd Bn, Auckland Infantry Regiment, in the field, 20 September 1916.

Wounded in action, 28 September 1916 (gun shot wound, back); admitted to 15th Casualty Clearing Station, 1 October 1916, and transferred same day to 26th General Hospital, Etaples; transferred to England, 11 October 1916, and admitted to 1st Southern General Hospital, Birmingham, 12 October 1916; transferred to NZ Convalescent Hospital, 2 April 1917.

Returned to France, 20 June 1917.

Found guilty, 2 August 1917, of drunkenness: forfeited 20 days' pay.

Joined No 1 NZ Field Ambulance, in the field, 8 August 1917.

Killed in action, 12 October 1917.

Report on file: 'Buried Passchendaele Sheet 20.8.2.8.D.3. Reported by OC, 3rd NZ Rifle Brigade'; grave subsequently lost.

Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNominal Roll Vol. 2: Roll 30, p. 3
Archives New Zealand (Wellington), Agency AABK, Series 18805, File 20994541

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