Remembering

21-Year-old First World War Soldier Remains Identified

Mishall Rehman October 14, 2024

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For more than a hundred years, the grave of a soldier buried at Tyne Cot Cemetery in Ypres, Belgium, has gone unidentified.

Last year, however, the Canadian Armed Forces and partner organizations finally identified the unknown soldier buried there as Cpl. William Benjamin Cunningham, a Canadian First World War soldier.

“More than a century ago, a young man from Manitoba courageously sought to serve his country in wartime. As we honour Corporal Cunningham for his dedication, we assure his family that Canada will forever be grateful for his service,” said Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence, in a statement.

Corporal Cunnigham answered the call to serve his country and lost his life at 21 years of age. Image courtesy of Reid and Debbie Cunningham, relatives of Cpl Cunningham.

A Young Life of Service and Sacrifice

William Cunningham was born near Hayfield, Manitoba, on Dec. 30, 1885, according to CAF records. He was the second son of Hugh and Syllindia Cunningham. Before enlisting with the 181st Overseas Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF), he worked as a clerk and served in the 99th Manitoba Rangers militia unit.

On April 18, 1917, Lance Corporal Cunnigham left Halifax, sailing aboard the S.S. Grampian. He arrived in England 13 days later. That June, after training with the 18th Reserve Battalion, CEF, he joined the 44th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF and deployed to France.

In just a few short months, he was promoted to corporal in September 1917.

That fall, Cpl. Cunningham met his eventual fate while serving gallantly with the 44th Battalion during the Third Battle of Ypres, more commonly known as the Battle of Passchendaele.

Corporal Cunningham’s grave was one of hundreds concentrated from its original location scattered across the battlefield at Passchendaele into Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemeteries. Above image April-May 1919 battlefield at Passchendaele. Image courtesy Photographer unknown. Canada. Dept. of National Defence/Library and Archives Canada/3329054.

According to the CAF, he was killed in action on Oct. 27, 1917, during intense shelling while fighting at a forward outpost past the Canadian front lines. He was 21 years old.

He was later buried as an unknown soldier in Tyne Cot Cemetery in Ypres, Belgium in 1920.

After the war, Corporal Cunningham’s name was engraved on Panel 28 of the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial. Unveiled in 1927, the Memorial has more than 54,000 names of those whose graves are unknown.

Unveiled in July 1927, the Memorial was built to honour the soldiers killed in the Ypres Salient in Belgium during the First World War who have no known grave. Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial is one of four memorials to the missing in Belgian Flanders. It commemorates casualties from around the world, including Canada, Australia, India, South Africa, and the United Kingdom.

After the war, Corporal Cunningham’s name was engraved on Panel 28 of the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial. Unveiled in 1927, the Memorial has more than 54,000 names of those whose graves are unknown. Above image: Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium front.

The Identification Process

Cpl. Cunningham was identified thanks to a thorough process of historical research, which used everything from war diaries to service records, casualty registers, grave exhumation, and concentration reports.

In Nov. 2023, the Casualty Identification Review Board confirmed his identity.

“Although Corporal Cunningham’s final resting place is among his comrades far from home, it is our duty here at home to honour the contributions he and his fellow service members made. We will remember his courage and the ultimate sacrifice he made. Lest we forget,” said Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence.

He is currently commemorated on Panel 28 of the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, which honours those killed in the battle of Ypres who have no known grave.

Corporal Cunningham’ was later buried as an unknown soldier in Tyne Cot Cemetery in Ypres, Belgium in 1920. Commonwealth Military Cemetery, Tyne Cot Cemetery.

Entities Identifying Soldiers

The Canadian Armed Forces’ Casualty Identification Program has identified the remains of 36 Canadians since its inception in 2007.

Since 2019, the Program has also played a part in identifying the graves of Canadian service members buried as unknown. Since then, 12 graves have been identified, and 40 active cases are working to resolve the unknown identities of 38 graves.

Side view of the Menin Gate in Ypres, Belgium. The gate is dedicated to the British and Commonwealth soldiers who were killed in the Ypres Salient of the First World War and whose graves are unknown.

Casualty Identification Program

The Casualty Identification Program often works in conjunction with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Not only does the Commission commemorate the 1.7 million Commonwealth servicemen and women who died in the world wars, but it also works with partners to identify those with no known grave. The Organization’s mission is to ensure Commonwealth service members are given the dignity of burial and the commemoration they deserve.

The CAF states it has notified the family of Cpl. Cunningham and a headstone rededication ceremony will take place as soon as possible at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s Tyne Cot Cemetery.