The Story of
John (Jack) Cunningham V.C.
John Cunningham was born on the 28th of June 1897 known as Jack by family and friends, He was the eldest son of Charles Cunningham who was a Pot hawker , and his wife Mary Ann.
he had six brothers and his family were Gypsies, He was born in a caravan at Swains yard just off from Manley Street a back street of Scunthorpe. The Family moved to Hull permanently, Where John attended St James Day School, Newington High and Chiltern Street School. After he left School he became a "Hawker" like his father.
He then enlisted in the army in the 3rd Battalion, He carried out his initial Training at South Dalton. He later served with the East York's guarding the Suez Canal in Egypt from December of 1915 until March 1916, He was then moved to France .
By the time he was 19 he was serving as a Private in the 12th (service) Battalion then the East Yorkshire Regiments 31st Division.
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It was while he was fighting in the Battle of the Somme that he earned his Victoria Cross which is the Highest Honour for gallantry.
It was on the 13th of November 1916 at the start of the Battle of the Ancre which was the final offensive of the Battle of the Somme, The 31st Division was to capture the German Trenches and form a defensive flack North of Serre.
After the German front line had been taken , Private Cunningham went with a bombing section to a communication trench where they were met with strong opposition and all the rest of the section were either wounded or killed, Private Cunningham collected all the bombs from casualties and proceeded alone, When all his bombs were gone he returned to rearm and went back to the communication trench, When he got there a party of ten German Soldiers were there, He overpowered the Germans killing all of them and managed to clear the trench up to the new line.
On the 20th of January it was reported in the Yorkshire Post that he had captured a trench of 30 German Soldiers taking most of them prisoner.
On the second of June 1917 John "Jack" Cunningham was one of 350 men and women to be decorated at a public ceremony of investiture, He was one of the First to receive his decoration from The King, After he received his Victoria Cross the King spoke with him for some time.
After "Jack" was quite badly wounded at the near end of the war he was demobbed in 1919, He married Eva Harrison that same year, They had two children a girl called Annie who dies as an infant and a son called John who was born in Hull in 1920.
John "Jack" Cunningham Died on the 21st of February 1941 he was 43 years old and had been ill for some time, he was buried at Hull Western cemetery in an un-marked grave but his name is on his parents Memorial stone near to where he was interred .
A young Gypsy boy who fought for his country like many other Gypsies boys who fought through the Battle of the Somme and two world wars so that we could be free.
May God rest them all and may they never be forgotten......
John Robert Osborn
John Robert Osborn was born in 1899 in Norfolk, where he lived in a caravan with his Father John Robert snr and his mother Harriet Susanna.
He served in WW1 as a seaman in the Royal Navy Reserves and took part in the Battle of Jutland in 1916.
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After the war He emigrated to Canada where he spent 2 years farming. Married and had 5 children.
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In 1933 He joined the Winnipeg Grenadiers and was called to active duty on the 3rd of September 1939.
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He attained the rank of Company Sergeant-Major and served in the 1st Battalion The Winnipeg Grenadiers, Canadian Army.
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He was awarded the Victory Cross on the 2nd of April 1946 posthumously.
The “Action Citation” Read as follow:
"At Hong Kong on the morning of 19th December 1941 a Company of the Winnipeg Grenadiers to which Company Sergeant-Major Osborn belonged became divided during an attack on Mount Butler, a hill rising steeply above sea level. A part of the Company led by Company Sergeant-Major Osborn captured the hill at the point of the bayonet and held it for three hours when, owing to the superior numbers of the enemy and to fire from an unprotected flank, the position became untenable. Company Sergeant-Major Osborn and a small group covered the withdrawal and when their turn came to fall back, Osborn single-handed engaged the enemy while the remainder successfully rejoined the Company. Company Sergeant-Major Osborn had to run the gauntlet of heavy rifle and machine gun fire. With no consideration for his own safety he assisted and directed stragglers to the new Company position exposing himself to heavy enemy fire to cover their retirement. Whenever danger threatened he was there to encourage his men. During the afternoon the Company was cut off from the Battalion and completely surrounded by the enemy who were able to approach to within grenade throwing distance of the slight depression which the Company was holding. Several enemy grenades were thrown which Company Sergeant-Major Osborn picked up and threw back. The enemy threw a grenade which landed in a position where it was impossible to pick it up and return it in time. Shouting a warning to his comrades this gallant Warrant Officer threw himself on the grenade which exploded killing him instantly. His self-sacrifice undoubtedly saved the lives of many others. Company Sergeant-Major Osborn was an inspiring example to all throughout the defence which he assisted so magnificently in maintaining against an overwhelming enemy force for over eight and a half hours and in his death he displayed the highest quality of heroism and self-sacrifice."
John Robert Osborn died in 1941 there is no known grave, However his name does appear on the Memorial in Nan Saiwan in Hong Kong. His Medal is displayed in the War Museum in Ottawa Canada.
He has been the second Soldier of Romany Gypsy origin to be awarded the highest Medal of Honour, The first being that of John (Jack) Cunningham.
On the 11th of November, is Armistice day and the 12th November is Remembrance Sunday, where everyone remembers their ancestors who fought in two world wars.
This year, in recognition of our own ancestors, we give the symbol of a Poppy, with a little artistic change. The flag of the Roma Gypsy people was placed in the centre of the poppy, to allow the world to know that our ancestors fought for our freedom too.
One of the families who went off to war was the Penfold boys. Three brothers that went off to war and by the end of the war, only one returned home. His brothers were killed in action.
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There were many Roma Gypsy families who lost sons and daughters during both world wars, so we honour and remember them. May they never be forgotten!
Next year it is hoped that we will be able to have our poppy made for us so we can wear it proudly to honour our war heroes.....
