WILLIAM NELSON CUNNINGHAM

Photographs courtesy of Philip

Born: 10th October 1914, St. Helen’s, Ipswich.

Died: 18th April 1943; age: 28; lost at sea when H.M. Submarine was torpedoed off Sierra Leone.

Residence: 25, Sandy Hill Lane, Ipswich.

Occupation: Serving with the Royal Navy.

Rank: Petty Officer Stoker; Service Number: C/KX 85143.

Regiment: Royal Navy, H.M. Submarine P. 615.

Memorial Reference:

Panel 71.3.

Chatham Naval Memorial,

Chatham,

Kent.

Relatives Notified & Address: Husband of Christine Margaret Cunningham, of Ipswich.

Father: William Cunningham, born December 1877, Scole, Norfolk.

Mother: Kate Charlotte Cunningham (nee Gould), born 1879, Stowmarket, Suffolk – died 1920, Ipswich.

Stepmother: Gertrude Ella Cunningham (nee Gould), born March 1899, Stowmarket, Suffolk.

Kate Charlotte Gould and Gertrude Ella Gould were sisters.

Sister: Elizabeth Joyce Cunningham, born 1904, Ipswich – died 1906, Ipswich.

Sister: Phyllis Evelyn Cunningham, born May 1907, Ipswich.

CENSUS

1921   10, Milner Street, Ipswich.

William was 6 years and 9 months old. He attended School and lived with his father, stepmother/maternal aunt, siblings and stepbrother.

William Cunningham, 45 years & 5 months old, a Saw Mill Labourer for Ransomes, Sims & Jefferies – Agriculture Engineers, of Orwell Works, Ipswich.

Ella Cunningham, 28 years & 2 months old, Home Duties.

William John Cunningham, 12 years & 9 months old, at School, born St. Clement’s, Ipswich.

Violet Muriel Cunningham, 8 years & 3 months old, at School, born St. Helen’s, Ipswich.

Alfred Ernest Cunningham, 5 years & 4 months old, at School, born St. Helen’s, Ipswich.

Douglas Percy Cunningham, 3 years & 7 months old, born St. Helen’s, Ipswich.

baby boy – 2 days old – name not decided on yet, born St. Helen’s, Ipswich (Maurice Edwin Cunningham).

In 1936, Ipswich, William married Christina Margaret Cocker, born May 1917, Ipswich – daughter of Christopher James Cocker, a Royal Navy pensioner, and Alice Maud Cocker (nee Cobbold), of 59. St. John’s Road, Ipswich.

Christine and William had two daughters:

Jean W. Cunningham, born February 1937, Ipswich.

Patricia A. Cunningham, born 1941, Ipswich – died 1943, Ipswich.

ENGLAND and WALES REGISTER 1939

William was home from the Royal Navy. He lived with his wife and daughter at the home of his parents, brothers and stepsiblings – 25, Sandy Hill Lane, Ipswich.

William Cunningham, attended a workshop for the blind.

Ella Cullingham, unpaid Domestic Duties.

William Cunningham, a Steel Works Labourer.

Alfred Cunningham, a Roll Moulder.

Maurice Cunningham, Auto Machine Worker.

Thomas Gordon Cunningham, born April 1923, Ipswich.

Ella Kate Cunningham, born July 1926, Ipswich.

Margaret Elizabeth Cunningham, born June 1928, Ipswich.

George Peter Cunningham, born May 1931, Ipswich.

Christina Cunningham (nee Cocker), unpaid Domestic Duties.

Jean Cunningham.