Robert Edmund Cunningham

By Peter Bruce, OAM

Robert (Bob) Cunningham enlisted in the Australian Army on 24 February 1956 and was allocated to Artillery. After initial recruit training at Kapooka, he completed his initial employment training on 25 Pounder guns at the School of Artillery in June/July1956. His first unit posting was to 1^st Field Regiment, which was in the process of setting up a new home at Holsworthy. In July 1957 Bob moved to 100^th Field Battery – later redesignated “A” Field Battery - and deployed to Malay with the Battery in September 1957.

He returned to Australia in October 1959 when the Battery was reunited with its parent Regiment at Holsworthy. In the following year, Bob moved to 105^th Field Battery and remained with them until his discharge as Bombardier in March 1965.

Robert’s Honours and Awards include:

• Australian Active Service Medal 1945 – 1975 with Clasp Malaya
• General Service Medal with Clasp Malaya
• Australian Defence Medal
• Pingat Jasa Malaysia
• Returned from Active Service Badge.

Bob was a life member of the 105^th Battery Association, a member of the “A” Field Battery Association and a member of the Kedron/Wavel RSL Sub-branch.  Bob had suffered from pneumonia for several months before entering palliative care at the Brighton Health Campus. He died on 30 July 2024.