Captain Cuninghame 42nd Royal Highland Regiment

**CamelCody** · 11th May 12, 01:47 PM

I'm not sure if this is the right forum,
I was browsing around google the other day and saw an old picture of a dapper soldier in his regimental uniform.
Always a fan of old pictures of Kilts i clicked on the picture. The small description on the website explained that the gentleman in the photo was one Captain Cuninghame of the 42nd Royal Highland Regiment and that he fought in the Crimean War and died of fever while en route back to Britain. Being a Cunningham myself I was elated to randomly come across a photo of a kilted ancestor. I learned a couple things that we have in commond from this photo. We both have a love of spats, diced hose, horsehair sporrans, and sporran straps; Although he was an officer and I an enlisted Marine, we both served our countried in foreign conflicts; We both seem to have an affinity for carrying multiple blades on our person. Anyway, without further ado, the photo!

Captain Cuninghame of the 42nd Royal Hogland Regiment. Fought in the Crimean War and died of fever while in route back to Britain

**SlackerDrummer** · 11th May 12, 02:07 PM

How very odd that he looks like he's sitting on something covered in a buffalo robe with a teepee in the background. Anyway, the only quibble with your description is that he's wearing a goat hair sporran and not one of horse hair.

Very cool, though.

**CamelCody** · 11th May 12, 02:11 PM

Forgive my mistake, you are correct sir, goathair it is.
I also thought the (appears to be) buffalo hide and teepee in the background was odd.
Perhaps the website is mistaken. Anyhow, it leaves much to be investigated.

**CamelCody** · 11th May 12, 02:41 PM

Also,
If anyone with a sharper eye and better mind than mine can glean any interesting bits of info from this photo i would truly appreciate it. I know we have a wealth of experts out there on the matter.
Cheers

**English Bloke** · 11th May 12, 02:49 PM

It's not a teepee, it's a British Army Bell Tent. Used throughout the Napoleonics and Crimea.

**SlackerDrummer** · 11th May 12, 06:26 PM

Originally Posted by English Bloke

It's not a teepee, it's a British Army Bell Tent. Used throughout the Napoleonics and Crimea.

Well, see. There you go. Learn something new every day. Thanks, John.

**MacMillan of Rathdown** · 11th May 12, 07:12 PM

He's not sitting on buffalo hides; they are, in all likelihood, bear skins. I also appears that Captain Cunningham is missing his right hand...

**CamelCody** · 11th May 12, 08:27 PM

Originally Posted by MacMillan of Rathdown

I also appears that Captain Cunningham is missing his right hand...

I thought that might be the case too although it's hard to tell if it's that or if it's just hidden behind his leg. It also kind of looks like the pinky finger on his left hand might be missing. I know he was wounded in the war but none of those wounds appear to be very recent, if indeed they are wounds...

**Downunder Kilt** · 11th May 12, 08:34 PM

Here is a bit about Cuninghame from a list of deaths from the Crimean War - Captain Robert C. Cunninghame - 42nd Highlanders - died of disease at Malta - 5 Sept. 1855
Died at the Royal Naval Hospital, Malta after contracting fever in the trenches at Sebastopol. Son of the late Robert Cunninghame, of Lorn House and Balianorris, Isle of Man.

**CamelCody** · 11th May 12, 09:25 PM

Interesting information,
I've never really associated my family with Isle of Man before. I've always just assumed we were confined to the areas around Ayreshire and Northern Ireland. Probably an obtuse view on my part as Cunninghams tend to spread to the winds whereever they are. It looks as though there's some areas of my family history that stand to be looked into a bit more. I appreciate everyone's input,