Andrew Walker Cunningham

Andrew Walker Cunningham

Personal Information
Date of Birth	23 Aug 1900
Place of Birth	Newport, Scotland
Death	22 Jan 1967, aged 66
Place of Death	Armadale, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	39 years, 9 months
Occupation	Dairyman
Religion	Presbyterian
Address	Byford, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Wife , Mrs Mary Cunningham
Military Information
Reg Number	WX4720
Date of Enlistment	23 Jun 1940
Rank	Sergeant
Unit/Formation	8th Division Salvage Company
Date of Embarkation	3 Jan 1941 ‒ 12 Jan 1941
Ship Embarked On	HMT Aquitania Fremantle to Colombo
Date of Embarkation	16 Jan 1941 ‒ 2 Feb 1941
Ship Embarked On	HMT Y3 Nevasa Colombo to Port Tewfik
Date of Return	‒ 28 Jul 1942
Ship Returned On	HMT Rajula Middle East to Fremantle
Fate	Returned to Australia Discharged on Medical grounds
Medals	1939-45 Star Africa Star Defence Medal War Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal 1939-45

Pre War

Shipping records show Andrew departing London on 12 Apr 1923 for Fremantle aboard the SS Balranald, a 23 year old steel moulder from 10 Academy street, Armadale, Linlithgowshire, Scotland.

Electoral Roll entries: 1936 at 'Blaweary' Byford, dairy farmer

War Service

On enlistment he was allocated to General Reinforcements, and shortly after was granted convalescent leave from 10 - 16 Jul 1940. On 5 Sep 1940 he was transferred to the 8th Division Salvage company, and four days later was promoted Acting Corporal. On 14 Nov 1940 this changed to Acting Sergeant prior to pre-embarkation leave which was from 23 Nov to 1 Dec 1940.

On 3 Jan 1941 he boarded the HMT Aquitania in Fremantle for Colombo in Ceylon (Sri Lanka), arriving there on 12 Jan 1941 where troops were transhipped from the Aquitania, Queen Mary and Mauretania into 13 smaller vessels. From Andrew's timeline it would appear that he was transhipped to the HMT Y3 Nevasa which sailed on 16 Jan 1941 and she landed her troops at Port Tewfik on 2 Feb 1941. They were then railed north to Kantara and then crossing the Canal into Palestine. On 27 Jan 1941 his rank of Sergeant was confirmed.

On 8 Aug 1941 Andrew was admitted to the 4th Australian General Hospital with Abdomen pain, returning to his unit on 11 Aug 1941. On 17 Apr 1942 he was transferred to the Depot Battalion, as he was then classified as fit for duties other than active service with a field formation. On 6 May 1942 he transferred to the Service Training Regiment, and on 26 May 1942 he moved again, this time to the HQ AIF (Middle East) Reinforcement Depot Staging Camp. On 28 Jul 1942 he disembarked from the HMT Rajula in the eastern states and then was transferred to WA on the Felix Roussel, arriving there on 14 Sep 1942. Soon after he was granted leave from 5 - 27 Oct 1942. Discharged on his return to duty, 27 Oct 1942.

Post War

On 1 Feb 1951 Andrew (a dairy farmer) and Mary boarded the P & O Liner SS Strathnaver to return to Australia after a holiday in the UK. Their residential address there having been Cooks Buildings, Cairneyhill. On 3 Dec 1953 they boarded the P & O Liner Stratheden in London for Fremantle, having stayed at 37 Denfield drive, Cardenden. They arrived in Fremantle on 29 Dec 1953.

Electoral Roll entries: 1943 at 'Blaweary' Byford; 1958 - 1963 at Forrest road, Armadale, farmer; 1980 Martin road, Waterloo, farmer.

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