1373: Lieutenant Thomas Cunningham (RNVR)

Lieutenant Thomas Cunningham was a whaling captain as a young man. Later he was a captain of a merchant ship. He finally become a pilot on the River Tay, guiding ships to and from Dundee docks. I

n July 1915, Thomas was granted a commission in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (RNVR). By that time, he had spent twelve years in the Royal Naval Reserve.

Three of Thomas' sons served during the war: Malcolm, who had spent four years in the navy; Thomas Jnr, member of the Black Watch; and Roderick, Royal Field Artillery.