8th Battalion, Tank Corps.

Awarded the Military Medal in the London Gazette Number 59 of 1919; These two gazettes announced awards of the Military Medal on the 11 February 1919 and 13 March 1919.

"Soldiers Died in the Great War" shows, Born Hapton, Lancashire, enlisted Burnley, Lancashire, 305406, L/Corporal, Killed in action, France/Flanders, 29 September 1918, formerly 19510 East Lancashire Cyclist Company. M.M.

Buried in the Bellicourt British Cemetery, France. Plot IV, Row S, Grave 1. The register records that he was aged 24 at the time of his death, the son of James and Annie Cunliffe of 37, Leeds Road, Nelson, Lancashire. Cunliffe's grave marker is on the front left. The inscription at the base reads, "Deep in our hearts his memory we cherish - Father and Mother".




The citation for his Military Medal appears on page 255 of the "Tank Corps, Honours and Awards, 1916 - 1918" and is as follows, "For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty, north of Moricourt, on August 8th, 1918. His tank had received five direct hits. Whilst the tank was on fire and was under direct artillery fire from the Chipilly Ridge, L/Cpl Cunliffe returned and salved three Hotchkiss guns, and then remained with his tank until it was impossible for him to do any more, and he was ordered to leave it, whereupon he advanced with the infantry and did considerable execution amongst the enemy. L/Cpl Cunliffe throughout showed a total disregard for his personal safety a great coolness, setting a fine example though severely shaken from the direct hits on his tank."

The photograph of Cunliffe and the scan of his Gallantry Certificate courtesy of Burnley Borough Council and Mike Townend, archivist at Towneley Hall, Burnley, Lancashire.