CHARLES CUNINGHAM

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Brigadier General Charles Cuningham was born in 1842  and entered the Army in 1858. Little is known about his military career but as he was Colonel of the 127th Beluch Light Infantry when he was a general, this was presumably his regiment.

 

He served in the Afghan war of 1880 and much later was Secretary to the Military Department of the Bombay Government. He was promoted to Major General at the end of 1899, some months after he had left Aden.

 

His two predecessors as Political Resident were in post each for five years and the same length of tour was presumably planned for him as well as he proceeded on an eight-month ‘furlough’ at the beginning of April 1898. Whilst he was away Brigadier General O’Moore Creagh was brought in to act as Resident until Cuningham returned on 5 December.

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Less than two months later, presumably due to ill-health, Cuningham was retired on 22nd January 1899. Whilst he was in Aden he opened the Cuningham Market in Tawahi.

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Although he had already left Aden by 20th February 1899 a plaque at the Tawila Tanks incorrectly suggests he was still there. The plaque was most likely commissioned some while before (perhaps in UK) and unveiled in his absence. He died in 1925.

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