Corporal J Cunningham was awarded good conduct pay of 1d on the 23rd November 1893. He served with the 2nd Battalion in the Tirah Expedition of 1897. He also served in the Boer War of 1899-1902 and joined the 1st Battalion on the 24th March 1900 at Springfontein. 

On the 27th September 1901, he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal.  

On the 31st December 1900, he was sadly killed in action when shot in the head by a Boer close to De Villiers Farm, near Driefontein, South Africa. He was later awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal on the 27th September 1901. He is buried at Driefontein Cemetery, Orange River Colony, South Africa.