Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria, to include the Brian Ritchie Collection (Part I)

Pair: Major-General W. R. Cunningham, Indian Army

Cabul 1842, unnamed as issued but with traces of erasure, fitted with wide scroll suspension; Punjab 1848-49, 1 clasp, Goojerat (Lieut., 12th Irregular Cavy.), light contact marks and edge bruising, very fine or better (2) £600-800

William Robert Cunningham was born at Agra in July 1819, the son of Major William Cunningham of Ayr, then serving in the 54th Bengal Native Infantry. Educated at the Ayr Academy, young William was appointed to the Bengal Infantry as a Cornet in December 1837, and passed his examination for duty as an Interpreter in December 1840, a qualification that witnessed his subsequent attachment to several regiments.

In the First Afghan War, he served in the 6th Native Infantry in the Cabul operations, gaining advancement to Lieutenant in November 1842, and in the First Sikh War he was present with the same regiment in the advance on Lahore in 1846, but did not qualify for the Medal. He did, however, serve throughout the Punjab operations of 1848-49, and was 2nd in command of the 12th Irregular Cavalry at Ramnuggar in November 1848, when he succeeded to the command of that unit on Major Holmes being wounded. He subsequently led the regiment in the action at Sadoolapore in the following month, and was mentioned in Major-General Sir Joseph Thackwell’s despatch (London Gazette 7 March 1849 refers). He was afterwards present at Goojerat and, with Sir Walter Gilbert’s column, in the pursuit of the enemy to Peshawur.

Although he witnessed no further active service, Cunningham gained steady advancement, being appointed Colonel in January 1868 and an Honorary Major-General on his retirement in April 1875. Onetime Colonel of the 5th European Infantry, he died at his residence at Dunard Row, Dumbarton in September 1899.