Charles Cunningham was born in Ballarat and was an Engineer by trade when he enlisted in the Australian Flying Corps, February 1918 Reinforcement on 23 February 1918 at the age of 18. He trained with the Australian Flying Corps at Laverton and marched out as an Air Mechanic Class 2. He left Melbourne by train on May 6th, then, on May 8th he embarked from Sydney on the Osterley. He disembarked in England on July 10th, posted to the AFC Depot at Buckinghamshire. Aside from two minor charges of being absent without leave for short periods of time, and the associated forfeiture of three day's pay, he served out the war without major incident. He returned to Australia on the Kaiser-i-Hind, disembarking on June 6th 1919.
Tree No 3578