Born in the parish of St. Nicholas, Dublin.
He was possibly the brother, or some other relation, of 1298 James Cunningham, 13th Light Dragoons (see his record) — both had the same trade on enlistment, and the reason stated for his transfer to the 13th was to serve with James Cunningham.
Enlisted into the 80th Foot at Dublin on the 28th of June 1850. No Regimental number was allocated.
Age: 18 years 6 months.
Height: 5' 7".
Trade: Pipe-maker.
Features: Fresh complexion. Grey eyes. Brown hair.
Transferred to the 13th Light Dragoons on the 1st of September 1850 by War Office Authority, dated the 29th of August 1850.
1851 Census
Piershill Barracks, Midlothian.
William Cunningham, 22, Private Soldier, born Dublin.
Notice also, adjacent to his entry:
James Cunningham, 24, Private Soldier, born Dublin.
Sent to Scutari on the 27th of September 1854 and to rejoin the regiment on the 10th of November.
Discharged from Chatham Invalid Depot on the 22nd of April 1862, a result of being:
"Unfit for further service. Labours under secondary syphilis of an inveterate character. Disease is attributable to venereal disease and not aggravated by intemperance. His state is likely to interfere with his ability to earn his livelihood."
Served 1 years 265 days. In Turkey and the Crimea, 2 years.
Conduct, "good". In possession of two Good Conduct badges,
Eleven times entered in the Regtl. Defaulter's book. Never tried by Court-martial.
Awarded a pension of 8d. per day.
Sent money from the Crimea to his father, Thomas Cunningham, at the Norwood Factory, Eaton, Buckinghamshire.
To live at Wigan, Lancashire, but he was living in Liverpool in 1875.
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Alma, Sebastopol and the Turkish medal.
Documents confirm the award of the Crimean medal with two clasps and the Turkish medal,
Census information for 1851 kindly provided by Chris Poole.