Joseph Guy's Story.
Birkenhead News 01 May 1915
BIRKENHEAD R.E. FATALLY WOUNDED.
A Gallant Soldier of the Empire
Under the date 21st April, Major M. C. Marquis, of Birkenhead, in command of the Cheshire Field Co. R.E., now at the front wrote to Mrs. Cunningham, of Birkenhead, the wife of Corpl. Joseph Cunningham – “It is with deep regret I have to inform you that your husband Corpl. J. Cunningham, Cheshire Field Co. R.E., was somewhat severely wounded last night. He has been moved to a neighbouring town for an operation. I have known him for many years, and feel his loss deeply. It speaks very highly for his character that he should have, after being retired with the rank of Sergeant at his country’s need rejoined as Sapper.”
On April 23rd the Major wrote :- “I am grieved to have to supplement my last letter with the report that your husband died yesterday at 1.45 p.m. He died as he had lived, a gallant soldier of the Empire. I may say that you have the sympathy of the entire company, by whom he was much liked.”
Company Sergt. Major T. Quigley writing to Mrs. Cunningham, under date April 21st, says :- “It is with deep regret that I pen you these few lines, but I regret to say that your husband Joe met with a serious wound last night. He has been sent down the base for operation, and I have not yet heard the result. I hope that he will with God’s grace, be spared to us all, most especially to you and the children. I hope you will be brave on hearing the sad news, and I join with you in a prayer that he may be spared to you and his family for may years to come. But if it is the Lord’s will that he is taken from you, you will be consoled to know that he died bravely doing his duty. He was a good N.C.O., and will be sadly missed, for nothing was too arduous for him to attempt. And I can assure you that he was esteemed both as a comrade and an N.C.O.”
Corpl. Cunningham was a member of the Cheshire Field Co. R.E. for many years and has been known to Major Marquis for 14 years. He rose to the rank of sergeant before leaving and re-joined at the outbreak of the war as a Sapper, being afterwards promoted to Corporal. He had been at the front since December. Corpl. Cunningham leaves a wife and two children, one very delicate, to mourn his loss. For many years he was in the employ of Messrs. Burgess, ship repairers, of Duke Street, and prior to that was for six years in the employ of Messrs. C. Laird and Co.