Hugh Cunningham (British Army officer)

Sir

Hugh Cunningham
Born(1921-11-04)4 November 1921
Died12 September 2019(2019-09-12) (aged 97)
AllegianceUnited Kingdom United Kingdom
Service / branch British Army
Years of service1942–1978
RankLieutenant-General
Service number224976
UnitRoyal Engineers
Commands11th Engineering Brigade
South West District
Battles / warsWorld War II
AwardsKnight Commander of the Order of the British Empire

Lieutenant-General Sir Hugh Patrick Cunningham KBE (4 November 1921 – 12 September 2019) was a British Army officer who became Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff (Operational Requirements).

Military career

Educated at Charterhouse School,[1] Cunningham was commissioned into the Royal Engineers in 1942 and fought in World War II in India, New Guinea and Burma.[2] He was appointed Commander Royal Engineers for 3rd Division in Cyprus and Aden in 1963, Commander of 11th Engineering Brigade in Germany in 1967 and General Officer Commanding South West District in 1971.[2] He went on to be Assistant Chief of the General Staff (Operational Requirements) in 1974 and Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff (Operational Requirements) in 1976 before retiring in 1978.[2]

In retirement he became a Director of Fairey Engineering.[1] He lived at Shaftesbury in Dorset.[3] He was one of the three Presidents of the UK-based charity Action on Addiction.[4]

He died on 12 September 2019 at the age of 97.[5]

References

  1. ^ a b Debrett's People of Today
  2. ^ a b c Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives
  3. ^ Burke's Peerage and Gentry
  4. ^ Trustees' Report and Financial Statements 2011-12, Action on Addiction
  5. ^ Cunningham
Military offices
Preceded by General Officer Commanding South West District
1971–1974 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Assistant Chief of the General Staff
1974–1975 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff (Operational Requirements)
1976–1978 		Succeeded by