PRIVATE J. CUNNINGHAM, MIDDLESEX REGIMENT. Queen’s South Africa Medal 1899-1902, 6 clasps,

PRIVATE J. CUNNINGHAM, MIDDLESEX REGIMENT. Queen’s South Africa Medal 1899-1902, 6 clasps, Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal, Laings Nek, South Africa 1901 (officially impressed, 2925 Pte., MIDDLESEX REGt). Extremely Fine.

With 6 pages of photocopied service papers, confirming that James Cunningham was born in Belfast, county Antrim, Northern Ireland, and originally enlisted into the Middlesex Regiment at Hounslow on 11th July 1890. A labourer by trade, he was 18 years and 3 months old at the time of his enlistment. Cunningham had previously seen service in the 7th (2nd Middlesex) Battalion King’s Royal Rifle Corps, and his service papers indicate that he was considered “a good recruit”. He was posted Private, 1st Battalion, 14th November 1890, and transferred to the Army Reserve on 11th July 1897. He was recalled for service during the Boer War on 13th October 1899, posted to the 4th Battalion Middlesex Regiment on 22nd June 1900, and discharged on 22nd May 1902. In addition to service in South Africa from 2nd December 1899 to 22nd May 1902, Private Cunningham saw overseas service in Gibraltar from 20th September 1892 to 30th March 1894. Service papers give next of kin address as his father, James Cunningham, at 22 Lennox Road, Walthamstowe, Essex.

BY AN ENORMOUS COINCIDENCE THERE WERE TWO DIFFERENT 2925 PRIVATE J. CUNNINGHAMS SERVING IN THE BRITISH ARMY AT THE SAME TIME, BOTH OF WHOM SAW ACTIVE SERVICE IN SOUTH AFRICA. THIS 2925 PRIVATE J. CUNNINGHAM OF THE MIDDLESEX REGIMENT AND A 2925 PRIVATE J. CUNNINGHAM OF THE WEST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT. THE WEST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT MAN, A CORPORAL, DIED OF DISEASE AT PRETORIA ON 24TH OCTOBER 1901 (COPY OF MEDAL ROLL FOR THIS SECOND MAN ALSO ACCOMPANIES MEDAL).