PERSONALIA
 
Name:  Cunningham, Andrew Browne
Date of birth: January 7th, 1883 (Dublin, Ireland)
Date of death:  June 12th, 1963 (London, Great Britain)
Nationality:  British
BIOGRAPHY: 
Born to Scottish parents in Dublin, he entered "HMS Britannia" as a naval cadet in 1897, then served ashore in the Naval Brigade in South Africa. He commanded a destroyer in World War I, and was awarded the Distinguished Service Order and two bars. Serving mainly in destroyers in the inter-war period, he was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Mediterranean Fleet in June 1939. After the outbreak of World War II he had success against the Italian Fleet at Calabria, Taranto and Matapan. He directed the evacuation of troops from Greece and Crete in April and May 1941, which was achieved without air cover. From April 1942 was head of the Naval Staff mission to Washington, DC. Promoted to Admiral of the Fleet in January 1943 and re-appointed as Commander-in-Chief of the Mediterranean Fleet in February 1943, he worked closely with American General Dwight D. Eisenhower on the planning of the Allied landings in North Africa and later Sicily. In September 1943 he oversaw the surrender of the Italian Fleet. He was appointed First Sea Lord in October 1943, and attended the major conferences (Teheran, Yalta, Potsdam etc). He retired from the Royal Navy in June 1946, and was created 1st Viscount of Hyndhope.
Andrew Cunningham died suddenly following a meeting at the Admiralty on 12th June 1963. He was buried at sea off the Nab Tower, Portsmouth from H.M.S. Hampshire.

Promotions:
15th January, 1897: Naval Cadet
15th June, 1898: Midshipman
7th January, 1902: Sub-Lieutenant
31st March, 1904: Lieutenant
31st March, 1912: Lieutenant-Commander
30th June, 1915: Commander
31st December, 1919: Captain
24th September, 1932, Rear-Admiral
22th July, 1936: Vice-Admiral
1st June, 1939: Acting Admiral
3th January, 1941: Admiral
21st January, 1943: Admiral of the Fleet
     
GRAND CROSS OF THE MOST HONOURABLE ORDER OF THE BATH (GCB)
Rank: Admiral
Unit: Royal Navy
Awarded on: March 4th, 1941
Details: for the powerful supporting and offensive operations conducted by the Fleet in the operations under his able leadership without which the brilliant victories of the Imperial Armies in North Africa could never have been won.
 
     
MEDAL OF MILITARY MERIT 1ST CLASS
 
     
MENTIONED IN DESPATCHES
Rank: Admiral
Unit: Royal Navy
Awarded on: November 17th, 1942
Action: Citation:
"For gallant and distinguished service in the Middle East."
 
     
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL - NAVY/USMC
Rank: Admiral of the Fleet
Unit: Royal Navy
Awarded on: January 26th, 1943
 
     
MENTIONED IN DESPATCHES
Rank: Admiral of the Fleet
Unit: Royal Navy
Awarded on: April 20th, 1943
Action: Citation:
"For distinguished services in the operations which led to the landing of the Allied Forces in North Africa."
 
     
LEGION OF MERIT - CHIEF COMMANDER (LOM - CC)
Rank: Admiral of the Fleet
Unit: Royal Navy
Awarded on: September 28th, 1943
 
     
ORDER OF THE THISTLE
Rank: Admiral of the Fleet
Unit: Royal Navy
Awarded on: January 1st, 1945
 
     
ORDER OF MERIT
Rank: Admiral of the Fleet
Unit: Royal Navy
Awarded on: June 13th, 1946
 
     
BASILIKON TAGMA TOY GEORGIOYA A - GRAND CROSS
Rank: Admiral of the Fleet
Unit: Royal Navy
Awarded on: April 15th, 1947
 
     
RIDDER GROOTKRUIS IN DE ORDE VAN ORANJE NASSAU (ON.1)
Rank: Admiral of the Fleet
Unit: Royal Navy
Awarded on: February 13th, 1947
Details: Royal Decree no. 34 of 13thd February, 1947
 
     
ORDER OF THE CLOUD AND BANNER WITH GRAND CORDON
Rank: Admiral of the Fleet
Unit: Royal Navy
Awarded on: June 24th, 1947
Action: Citation:
"In recognition of services to the Chinese Navy"
 
     
WISSAM ALAOUIT CHERIFIEN - GRAND OFFICER
 
     
CROIX DE GUERRE (1939-1945)
 
     
MÉDAILLE MILITAIRE
 
     
EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL
 
     
1939-1945 STAR
 
     
AFRICA STAR
 
     
DEFENCE MEDAL 1939-1945
 
     
ITALY STAR
 
     
WAR MEDAL 1939-1945
 
 
 
  Provide alterations or additional information
Picture source:   - wikipedia.org
Information source(s):   - The London Gazette Issue 35094 published on the 4 March 1941
- Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 35342 published on the 7 November 1941
- Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 35788 published on the 13 November 1942
- Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 35877 published on the 22 January 1943
- Third Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 35985 published on the 16 April 1943
- Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 36188 published on the 24 September 1943
- Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 36866 published on the 29 December 1944
- Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 37598 published on the 4 June 1946
- Third Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 37931 published on the 11 April 1947
- The London Gazette Issue 37995 published on the 24 June 1947
- Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 38132 published on the 21 November 1947
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- National Maritime Museum
- HMS Hood Association
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