Private William Edward Cunnington

Army Number: 102625 formerly Private 8345 19th (Public School Boys Battalion), Royal Fusiliers

Battalion: 2/5th Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derbys) Regiment.

Born at Ravensworth, Couty Durham. Son of Edward and Jane Isabella Cunnington, of The Castle Inn, Whittingham, Northumberland. He was an architect and surveyor prior to enlisting on 7th July 1915 at Alnwick, Northumberland. He went to France on 14th November 1915 and suffered gunshot wounds to his right leg on the 11th March 1916 and was taken to No. 8 Red Cross Hospital, Paris Plage on 19th March 1916. He was transferred to England on Hospital Ship New Haven, on 29th March 1916. He was then posted to the 5th Battalion Royal Fusiliers, on 31st August 1916 and returned to France on 10th October 1916. He was sent to England on 6th August 1917 suffering boils and injuries to his legs. He returned to France on 20th March 1918 and was transferred to the 2/5th Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derbys) Regiment, on 30th March 1918. He was killed in action on 14th April 1918, aged 29., in the German attack on the British positions near Kemmel, Belgium.

Commemorated : Ploegsteert Memorial, Belgium. Panel 7.

Private William Edward Cunnington is also commemorated on the following local memorials:-
St. Bartholomew’s Church Stained Glass Window War Memorial, Whittingham, Northumberland.
Whittingham War Memorial Institute Plaque Whittingham, Northumberland.