During World War II, he served with the 8th Belfast regiment of the Royal Artillery Special Reserve, the 245 heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment of the Royal Artillery and the 14th Army in Burma. His war included a stint helping against the blitz in London, operations in France, including being evacuated from Dunkirk. In 1945, he was awarded the OBE. He was also a member of the B Specials.[citation needed]
In 1979, Cunningham became a Patron of the Ulster Unionist Council and, around this time, retired from his other posts. He died in 1996.[citation needed]
References
^John F. Harbinson, The Ulster Unionist Party, 1882-1973, p. 206