A post by Simon Howard on Norfolk Tales Facebook page states; Wilfred George Cunningham was born on the 12 of March 1896 to Jabez Cunningham and Ann Mary Riches of Heacham. Sadly, his mother died 6 months after his birth.
His father remarried in 1900 to Alice Mary Ann Munns in Notting Hill, London. On the night of the 1901 census, the family are living in 2 Malthouse Lane, Heacham. Wilfred was living next door at number 1 with his paternal grandparents Robert and Elizabeth.
Wilfred married Madeleine May Patrick of Banham, Norfolk in 1915 in St Pancras, London. They met when she worked at Ruskin School, Heacham. The first daughter was born in 1915 and they had 10 children in total. Then on 17 June 1915 Wilfred enlisted with the Army and joined as a Private with Norfolk Regiment; during the war he was promoted to the rank of sergeant and posted to the 1st/5th and then 9th Prince of Wales (North Staffordshire Regiment. He was honourably discharged on 19th Feb 1919 but received the Silver Badge. Two of his young children died in 1926 of the flu.
He was a nurseryman and he and family lived at 9 New Row, Heacham and had land in Heacham, Ringstead and Syderstone. The business developed and they started Dewdrop Nursery on Pound Lane, Heacham and was run by Wilfred and his sons until they retired. (This is now housing called Dewdrop Close, Heacham)
In the Second World War he was an ARP (Air Raid Precautions) and served as Patrol Leader for Ringstead Patrol. He was a life member of the Royal British Legion and was founder secretary of the Legion at Heacham. (There are more details in newspaper articles.
He was founder Chairman of the Legions Sheltered Housing Scheme at Heacham which was named after him "Cunningham Court". He was also a Parish Councillor and County Councillor as well as Executive member and Treasurer of West Norfolk Labour Party for more than 30 years. If that was not all, he was also a member of the Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes (RAOB); they work in the local community and raise money for charities. His Legion work and Charity work gained him an MBE awarded at Buckingham Palace in June 1965.
Wilfred George Cunningham’s wife, Madeline, died in August 1976; he died 16 November 1982 aged 86.
| Unit or location | Role | Posted from | until |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ringstead Patrol | Patrol Leader | Unknown | 03 Dec 1944 |
Nurseryman
In 1939 he was an ARP Warden.
He was awarded an MBE in 1965.
A WW1 veteran he was Private 203458 Norfolk Regiment then Sergeant 235280 North Staffs Regiment. He was awarded Silver War Badge, Victory and British medals.
TNA ref WO199/3389
Hancock data held at B.R.A
1939 Register
Simon Howard on Norfolk Tales Facebook via Chris Perry