Plot 40 Row D Grave 18 Tyne Cot Cemetery - What does the headstone record?

[laughton]

The headstone for Plot 40 Row D Grave 18 Tyne Cot Cemetery may record one of two situations:
 

• A Canadian Soldier of the Great War
   
• Unknown Corporal, 44th Bn, Can. Inf.

 

As best as I can tell, the CWGC headstone records do not record any information, rather they refer to a common headstone #9147. It is possible that the headstone only refers to "A Soldier of the Great War - Known Unto God". Perhaps there were too many in Tyne Cot to be specific to all the cases.

 

This is the grave of Corporal William Benjamin Cunningham #865074, 44th Canadian Infantry Battalion.

 

A photograph would be great but even just knowing what is says would be a great addition!

 

Part 1 3rd line from bottom 40 D 13 to 40 D 20 HS/9147

Part 2 nothing stated for HS/9147

 

[Marnik]

Here is the picture of the headstone.

 

Regards,

 

Marnik

 

[laughton]

@Marnik @Becstar

 

Thanks so much for the photograph! That confirms it is the grave of Corporal William Benjamin Cunningham #865074 of the 44th Canadian Infantry Battalion. He is the only Corporal of that Battalion that is missing in that area in October 1917. He is second from the bottom on this COG-BR 2129767.

 

His case was reported to the CWGC in March of this year (2020) but as a Canadian the details are on the site of the CEFSG not here on the GWF (see this link for details). I will now update the report with inclusion of the photograph.

 

 

At that location 28.D.12.c.9.8 he was found just south of Passchendaele, slightly north of Vienna Cottage 28.D.12.d.2.1. That is a perfect match to the battalion's location at that time.