Cunningham, Edward Vincent (Corporal, b.1917 - d.2003)

Collection relating to the Second World War service of VX3717 Corporal Edward Vincent Cunningham, 2/1 Machine Gun Battalion, Second Australian Imperial Force, Australia, United Kingdom, Middle East and Greece, 1939-1945.

Wallet 1 of 1 – Consists of three folders of material relating to Corporal Cunningham.

Folder 1 of 3 contains one diary and two loose diary pages written by Corporal Cunningham between 3 November 1939 and 30 July 1941. Corporal Cunningham’s diary covers the period of his training and service with 2/1 Machine Gun Battalion in the United Kingdom, the Middle East, Greece, and Crete. In his diary, Corporal Cunningham writes about his enlistment, training at Puckapunyal, Victoria, volunteering to train for a machine gun battalion at Rutherford, New South Wales, embarkation, life on board the ship, a mutiny by the ship’s crew, arriving in the United Kingdom, completing further training, meeting the King, being on guard duty, receiving mail from home, defending England against Garman air raids, going on leave, spending a few days with the London anti-aircraft crew, playing soccer during an air raid, embarking for the Middle East, receiving a knife wound in Durban, winning in a boxing competition, arriving in Egypt, fighting in the desert, difficulty with compasses, having leave in Alexandria, embarking for Greece, being targeted by enemy aerial bombardment, seeing large numbers of hungry Greek refugees, being pushed back by German forces in Greece, being shot in the leg, evacuating Athens on the transport boat 'Costa Rica', evacuating on a Navy destroyer when the transport ship was sunk, being looked after by the locals on Crete, preparing to defend the island from German invasion, the landing of large numbers of German paratroopers, fighting at very close quarters, retreating and hiding in tombs, seeking a way off the island, seeing large numbers of dead soldiers and civilians, working in fields with monks, and attempting to escape through the hills.

Folder 2 of 3 contains one Record of Service Book and two Soldier’s Pay Books of Corporal Cunningham. The Record of Service Book contains details such as courses completed, clothing and equipment issued, leave, and medical history. The Soldier’s Pay Books contain entries dated between 3 November 1939 and 24 November 1945. The entries record details such as rates of pay, places posted, leave, next of kin, and medical history.

Folder 3 of 3 contains one photograph of Corporal Cunningham, dated c1939, and one label for admission to a hospital ship.

Corporal Edward Vincent Cunningham enlisted to the Second Australian Imperial Force on 4 November 1939. After a short period of training, he volunteered to become part of 2/1 Machine Gun Battalion. With this battalion, Corporal Cunningham served in England, the Middle East, Greece and Crete. He took part in the Battle of Crete in May 1941, and was hidden on the island by locals until he was able to escape. Corporal Cunningham was discharged on 21 September 1945.