Hugh Cunningham
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).
Sir Hugh Cunningham | |
|---|---|
| Born | 4 November 1921 |
| Died | 12 September 2019 (aged 97) |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/ |  British Army |
| Years of service | 1942–1978 |
| Rank | Lieutenant-General |
| Commands held | 11th Engineering Brigade South West District |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire |
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
- Debrett's People of Today
- Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives
- Burke's Peerage and Gentry
- Trustees' Report and Financial Statements 2011-12, Action on Addiction
- Cunningham
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by John Douglas-Withers |
General Officer Commanding South West District 1971–1974 |
Succeeded by George Cooper |
| Preceded by Frank Caldwell |
Assistant Chief of the General Staff 1974–1975 |
Succeeded by Henry Roper |
| Preceded by Sir Michael Giddings |
Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff (Operational Requirements) 1976–1978 |
Succeeded by Sir Stephen Berthon |