Private Austin Cunningham

Name: Cunningham, Austin

Religion: Methodist

Date of death: 1917-03-21

Cause of death: Died of wounds

Buried: Etaples Military Cemetery, XXII. B. I.

Highest Rank: Private (73rd Battalion)

Battle wounded/killed: Near Arras

CVWM ID: No CVWM ID in our database, but try this.

LAC ID: 129483

Attestation record(s): image 1, image 2, image 3, image 4

Service file: B2215-S020

Uploader's Notes: The son of Alexander and Isabella Cunningham, of Huntingdon, Quebec, Robert Austin Cunningham, died of wound's received in France, aged 23 years. Early in March a message was received by his mother, that her son Austin had been wounded, likely while in the line on 1 March. The Canadian troops had launched a gas attack against the Germans on the 1st, then followed up with an attack against the German trenches across Zouave Valley, near Arras in Northern France. This was done under heavy fire and the Royal Highlanders endured 161 casualities. Isabella Cunningham received a second message stating that Austin was seriously ill, followed by a third that he had died, in the hospital at Etaples France. Austin's father, Alexander S. Cunningham, lived on a farm at the rear of Huntingdon, was a member of Godmanchester council, and served more than one term as mayor.

Uploader's Research notes: From the Huntingdon Gleaner Austin's father, Alexander S. Cunningham, lived on a farm at the rear of this village, and for several years was a member of Godmanchester council, and served more than one term as mayor. Austin, whose death has come as such an affliction to his widowed mother and her family, was in his twenty third year. He was among the first to enlist on war being declared and went overseas with the first contingent in the Royal highlanders. He was a plasteror by trade and his comrades testify to his many good qualities. [Private Army Canadian Infantry 73rd Battalion "D" Company, No 13 Platoon ]

Date added: 2004-09-04

Last modified: 2006-03-14