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Major Howard Cunningham MC

Discussion in 'Roll of Honor & Memories - All Other Conflicts' started by GRW, Dec 3, 2014.

  1. GRW

    GRW Pillboxologist WW2|ORG Editor

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    "Major Howard Cunningham, who has died aged 82, won an MC in Korea and subsequently had a successful career in the steel industry.


    After undergoing training at the Commonwealth Divisional Battle School in Japan, in January 1953 Cunningham moved to Korea to take command of a platoon in D Company, 1st Battalion Durham Light Infantry (1 DLI), in the depths of winter.


    Cunningham’s platoon was in a forward position. Shell and mortar fire were constantly increasing, the Chinese dominated No-man’s-land and much needed to be done to gain the mastery in patrolling.


    On the night of June 23 1953, 1 DLI were defending Hill 355, the highest point in the sector. Cunningham was in charge of an ambush patrol on a feature known as Alice Springs. The position had been attacked the night before and, in the light of what was learnt, he deployed his men to put the enemy at the greatest disadvantage.


    Shortly after 10pm his forward reconnaissance group was attacked and, after a firefight, it pulled back to join the main element. They were pursued by the Chinese in platoon strength and, at the same time, another enemy party of similar size attacked Cunningham’s left flank. He rapidly reorganised his men and drove off both these units.
    By this time he was wounded, and so were half his small force. He decided to withdraw to his company’s main defensive position, but on the way he found that one of his men was falling behind.
    “Get a move on!” he told the man. “I can’t!” came the reply. “I’ve been shot!”
    Despite the pain from his own wounds and the heavy incoming fire, Cunningham picked up the man and carried him back to base. The citation for the award to him of an Immediate MC stated that he had shown gallantry, skill and determination of a very high order.
    John Charles Howard Cunningham was born in Sheffield on June 19 1932. Aged 10, he was at his preparatory school and on his way to church when one of the boys in the procession sighted a large water rat in the river.
    The boys rushed on to a bridge to look at it but the structure was old and collapsed under their weight. Cunningham, seeing that two boys were trapped below the surface in the deepest part of the river, dived in repeatedly and saved them. He was awarded a medal for bravery by the Scout Association.
    He went on to the Leys School, Cambridge, and after completing his officer training was commissioned into the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (KOYLI). Having been posted to 1 DLI, he embarked for Japan."
    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/11271154/Major-Howard-Cunningham-obituary.html
     

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