Name: Michael Cunningham
Rank: Private
Unit/Regiment: 1/7th The Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment)
Service Number: 240953
Date of Death: 11 October 1918
Cemetery: Wellington Cemetery, Rieux-en-Cambresis, Nord, France
Michael Cunningham was the second son of coal miner William Cunningham and his wife Catherine (Kate) McCormick. The couple, both from Batley, married in 1892. Eldest son, James, was born the following year. Then came Michael, born in Batley on 20 January 1895. Their third son, William, was born in 1897. They welcomed a daughter, Mary Ann, in 1899. In December 1901 their final son, Thomas, was born – but his birth came the month after William’s death.
Widowed Kate worked as a rag sorter to try to provide for her five young children, but times were tough. In March 1905 she narrowly avoided a prison sentence after being found guilty of stealing a pair of lady’s boots from the Commercial Street shop of Messrs. Stephen Hilton and sons, boot and shoe dealers. Her widowed status, and children, influenced the magistrates to leniency. She was also in the early stages of pregnancy.
It was some time later in 1905 that Kate and her family moved to Dewsbury, possibly after she began a relationship with Herbert Hardy, a former Boer War soldier. Born in Hanging Heaton and living in Dewsbury, in addition to his military service he worked as a general labourer, before taking up employment in the textile industry. Judging from a series of court records it is likely that Herbert was the father of Kate’s daughter, Elizabeth, born in the late autumn of 1905. Elizabeth survived only five weeks, and the Dewsbury cemetery burial register records Kate’s abode as Boothroyd Lane, Dewsbury.
In October 1906 Kate had another son, Herbert. Born prior to her marriage in 1907 to Herbert Hardy, he was implicitly acknowledged as Herbert’s son, bearing the Hardy surname in subsequent censuses. His father was also acknowledged in war pension records.
The 1911 census records Herbert and Kate Hardy living at Ingham Road, Dewsbury, with Herbert working as a twister in a mungo and shoddy woollen mill.1 Subsequently, he was employed in the dyehouse of Dewsbury flock merchants, Messrs. Midwood Brothers.2
Kate had given up her rag sorting work by 1911, with daughter Nora being born in April 1909. Also in the household were four-year-old Herbert, and four of Kate’s children from her first marriage – Michael and Willie (both working as coal mine hurriers), Mary Ann, and Thomas; eldest son James having died in Dewsbury District Infirmary in January 1909, age 15.3
In April 1912, with awful symmetry, William died. Like his brother James, he was age 15; and like his brother he too passed away in Dewsbury Infirmary.4 Both boys are buried with their father, William Cunningham, in Batley cemetery.
In late 1913 Herbert and Kate’s final son, James Gilbert, was born. Then, with the outbreak of war, Herbert Hardy was recalled to the Colours, with the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (KOYLI). In October 1914, with the family now living at Milton Street, Batley Carr, and Herbert home on leave, trouble erupted – serious enough to lead to court appearances for three of the family.
The trouble originated with Michael, who, once the pubs closed, was in the habit of calling round at the houses of neighbours, the Powell and Coggill families. It culminated in him pawning his best boots and using the proceeds to buy drink from Mrs Powell. His mother, Kate, found out about it. In the early hours of 19 October she saw Michael once more round at the Coggills, and called him out. An argument ensued resulting in both Kate and Michael appearing before the magistrates for using obscene language. Both were fined 5s apiece, or face 7 days in prison.
Six days later Herbert Hardy confronted Albert Powell. The latter had thrown jeers and insults, referring to Herbert and other recalled soldiers as “A penny box of soldiers” and taunting “What have the Germans to fear when such as you are going?” When Herbert challenged him, Powell grabbed a poker. In the ensuing fracas Herbert punched Powell in the face, though Herbert claimed it was in defence he had knocked the poker in Powell’s face. Mary Ann Cunningham, who witnessed it, said her step-father had only put his hand up, and Powell had “hurt himself.” The magistrates did not agree, and fined Herbert 10s and costs, with the threat of a jail sentence if he failed to pay.
It was around this period that Michael gave up what his mother said was an over a 30s a week job as a hurrier at Soothill Colliery, to enlist with The Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment).5
On 21 April 1915, Michael’s step-father went out to France to reinforce the 2nd KOYLI. A little over two weeks later, on 7 May 1915, 38-year-old Herbert Hardy was involved in action at the infamous Hill 60. This was a low rise of ground, 60 metres above sea-level, about three miles south east of Ypres. Because it was a small area of elevated land in a flat landscape, it had strategic importance and was heavily fought over throughout the war. In the battle’s aftermath he was posted missing.
Kate and her family were now back in Batley, living at Balk Street. Even before the official missing notification came through, another soldier from Batley writing home to his wife asked her to let Kate know her husband had “gone under” in a charge, and nothing more had been heard of him. The War Office gave the family hope though, in stating that missing did not necessarily mean dead.
In August, with no news of her husband for over three months, Kate called in at the Batley News offices. Corporal Breheney, a Dewsbury soldier who was now home on leave, had told her he was present with Herbert at Hill 60, and saw him fall in the second bayonet charge, though he could not categorically say if he had died.
She also told the News staff her eldest son, Michael, was in the army and she now had only 25s a week to support herself and the five children who remained at home, including one who she described as “a cripple” needing extra nourishment. This was Thomas Cunningham. In an appeal to raise War Relief Funds locally her anonomysed story was published in the paper as an example of the real hardships being faced by soldiers’ families.6
Throughout 1915 Kate continued to appeal for information about her missing husband, even writing to the King of Spain, as head of a neutral country, to make inquiries of the German government.
It was not until March 1916 that information was forthcoming from friends asserting Herbert was dead. It is not stated, but these friends are presumably soldiers – or friends and relatives of soldiers – who served with him.
Finally, on Wednesday 19 July 1916, well over a year since last hearing from him, she received a letter from the War Office. It notified her that in the absence of further news, and considering the lengthy period her husband had been missing, the Army Council had regretfully concluded that he had died on or about 7 May 1915.
And Kate now had an additional cause for anxiety. On the same day as receiving the letter informing her she was a widow once more, she received news that her eldest son, Michael, who had initially been with the 2/5th West Riding Regiment,7 was now at the Front. It was the early days of the Battle of the Somme, and news of the high number of casualties were starting to filter through.
Michael served on the Western Front for over two years, coming home on leave only once. Whilst on active service he was wounded twice. His latter service was with the 1/7th West Riding Regiment.
Days before the Armistice, Kate Hardy received a letter from an officer. It informed her that Michael had fallen in action on 11 October whilst bravely doing his bit on the Western Front. On that day the 1/7th Duke of Wellingtons were heavily involved in the actions which later became known as the Pursuit to the Selle, when the Germans were driven back and rapidly withdrew to the line of River Selle.
In the early hours of 11 October the Battalion were in the Escaudœuvres area of northern France, better known pre-war for its beet sugar production. They were assembling ready for their part in an attack later that morning, in which they advanced 1,000 yards. The push continued until 13 October. In addition to officer casualties, the cost amongst the Battalion’s other ranks in this three-day spell was 56 killed and 237 wounded, with several more missing.8 23-year-old Michael was amongst the dead.
Michael was awarded the Victory Medal and British War Medal. He is buried in Wellington Cemetery, Rieux-en-Cambresis, a cemetery created by the Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment) in the aftermath of the Pursuit to the Selle actions.
In addition to St Mary’s, Michael Cunningham is also remembered on the Batley War Memorial.
His step-father, Herbert Hardy, has no known grave and is remembered on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.
Michael did not mark the end of Kate’s losses. In 1921, her 19-year-old invalid son Thomas died. He was buried in Batley cemetery on 1 November, alongside his older brothers. Then, in February 1925, 15-year-old Nora died, joining her step-brothers in the family grave.
Kate never remarried. She remained at Balk Street, and died in 1941.
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Sources:
1. 1911 census.
2. Batley News, 22 July 1916.
3. Batley Cemetery Burial Registers.
4. Ibid.
5. Some newspapers indicated Michael enlisted in September 1914, but the newspaper reports at the time of his arrest make no mention of this, though they do state his step-father was serving in the army. His wage is mentioned by his mother in a subsequent Batley News report.
6. Batley News, 14 August 1915.
7. Medal Award Rolls.
8. 1/7th Battalion Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment), The National Archives, Ref WO95/2802/1.
Other Sources:
• Burial Registers – Batley and Dewsbury cemeteries.
• Censuses, England & Wales – 1891 to 1921.
• Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
• Court Records.
• GRO Birth, Marriage and Death Indexes.
• Medal Index Card.
• Newspapers, various.
• Parish Registers, various.
• Pension Record Cards and Ledgers, Western Front Association.
• Soldiers Died in the Great War.
• Soldiers Effects Registers
• The Long, Long Trail website.
PastToPresentGenealogy 