Charles William Joseph Cunningham MBE (1904 - 1982)

Monsignor Charles William Joseph Cunningham MBE was born on 23rd October 1904 at Eastern Railway, Western Australia, Australia. He was the seventh of eleven children (third son) of Patrick and Sarah Cunningham. ^[1] On his paternal side, Charles was the grandson of Irish emigrants, Patrick and Ellen Cunningham. On his maternal side, he was descended from several northern Sydney pioneer (free and convict) families. Charles passed away on 10th October 1982 at Busselton, Western Australia. Of course, as a priest he never married.

Priesthood

Charles served as a Catholic priest for 45 years

As a young man, Charles studied for and became a Roman Catholic priest; a vocation he maintained until his death, a fortnight short of his 78th birthday anniversary. Father Cunningham was appointed parish priest in Bunbury, Western Australia, in 1937. He also served as a priest at St Mary's Cathedral, Perth, Western Australia.

Burdened for those serving on fields of battle, Charles Cunningham served as a non-combatant military chaplain for the next three years and three months. Scroll down to the sections below for further reading.

After the war, Charles returned to his priestly duties, at St Mary's Cathedral, Perth, Western Australia. In 1958, he was appointed Vicar of Albany, Western Australia.

Charles became closely associated with the Villa Maria Home for the Aged, established in Busselton in 1962 by his sister and brother-in-law, Maud and Jack Ray. The Cunningham Nursing Home in the Ray Village complex is named in his honour. ^[2] Fortunate to win a lottery in 1975, he donated the money to St Michael's Catholic Primary School, Brunswick, Western Australia; with which much-needed equipment and a school bus were purchased. ^[3].

Exceptionally Meritorious Service

Charles Cunningham MBE is a Military Veteran.
Served in the 2nd Australian Imperial Force Chaplain 1942-46
Kokoda Track, Buna-Gona

Charles served in the Second Australian Imperial Force during the Second World War as a Chaplain; commissioned on 9th February 1942, he resigned his commission on 12th May 1946 following the end of hostilities. ^[4] Chaplains served beside fighting soldiers - diggers - every step of the way, being shot at, sharing the same meals, catching the same diseases, but without joining the fight. Charles was chaplain, or padre, to the 2/1st Australian Infantry Battalion throughout the Kokoda and Buna-Gona campaigns and later, Headquarters 7th Division.

It was for his 'exceptionally meritorious service' as chaplain with the 2/1st Battalion at Eora Creek on the Kokoda Track (see separate section, below) that he was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE). ^[5][6] The presentation of his award was made by the Lieutenant Governor of Western Australia, Sir James Mitchell GCMG, on 3rd January 1947 in St Mary's Cathedral, Perth, Western Australia. ^[7][8]

The Kokoda Track

It was noted that Padre Cunningham had organised and participated in the evacuation of wounded soldiers in very hazardous circumstances. Edwin Givney, an eye witness and officer of the 2/1st related: "The heavy rain of the previous night and the morning of the 26th, estimated by some of our bushmen at five to eight inches, caused [Eora Creek] to rise several feet. It washed away portions of the bridge ... Getting casualties across what remained of the bridge was an absolute nightmare, and was only managed by a line of men bracing themselves in the water against the sunken bridge and passing the stretchers across. To do this in the darkness in the very cold water was extremely difficult. The enemy fired mortar onto the area during the period." ^[9]

Buna-Gona, Papua

"Before the assault [on Gona Beach, Papua], he told troops he was going to offer Mass for them. He selected a nearby site for the Mass and 120-150 soldiers followed him. He preceded Mass with general absolution and set aside the approximate number of hosts for those who had followed him. In those days, Mass was said by the priest with his back to the people. When Padre Cunningham turned around to face the assembled troops for Holy Communion, he realised their numbers had grown but said to himself, “Well, they probably won’t want to receive Communion”. He proceeded to distribute the consecrated hosts but the line of men coming seemed endless. So he started breaking the hosts, but he did this just a few times before realising he still would have enough hosts and, strangely, the supply of hosts had not seemed to lessen, so he continued to give every man who approached the full host. He averred later on that he would have distributed Communion to more than 450 men." ^[10]

Sources

1. ↑ Western Australia Birth Index #6583/1904
2. ↑ St Joseph's Parish, Bunbury; accessed 15 May 2018
3. ↑ St Michael's Catholic Primary School; accessed 15 May 2018
4. ↑ War Memorial nominal roll: WX17091 Chaplain 4th Class Charles William Joseph Cunningham; accessed 20 Dec 2017
5. ↑ Australian Honours: MBE; accessed 20 Dec 2017
6. ↑ Australian War Memorial Honours and Awards: Charles William Joseph Cunningham; accessed 15 May 2018
7. ↑ MBE Citation AMF O/A 9: For exceptionally meritorious service at Eora Creek.
8. ↑ Sir James Mitchell filled the position of Governor as Lieutenant Governor from 1933 to 1948 in an honorary capacity to assist State finances. A former State Premier (1919-24 & 1930-33), he was appointed Governor in 1948.
9. ↑ Givney, E C. The First at War: The Story of the 2/1st Australian Infantry Battalion 1939-45. The Association of First Infantry Battalions. Earlwood, 1987
10. ↑ The Record: South Perth to celebrate past pastors; accessed 15 May 2018