Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Edward George Cunnington, an ironstone labourer, born 1861 in Exton, Rutland and his wife Elizabeth Cunnington (nee Dawson), born 1863 in Matterdale, Cumberland. Anthony was born in 1889 in Greetham, Rutland, his siblings were, Edward G., a schoolboy, born 1883 in Melkinthorpe, Westmoreland, Thomas A., a schoolboy born, 1884 in Lowther, Westmoreland, Louisa, a schoolgirl, born 1885 in Clifton, Westmoreland and Henry James, a schoolboy, born 1887 in Helton, Westmoreland, in April 1891 the family home was at High Street, Greetham, Rutland. In March 1901 Anthony was residing in the family home at High Street, Greetham, Rutland together with his parents and siblings, Thomas, a farm worker, James, a farm worker, Alice, born 1892, John William, born 1894, Mary Elizabeth, born 1897 and Charles, born 1899, the latter four siblings were all born in Greetham, Rutland. In April 1911 Anthony was employed as a game keeper and was residing as a boarder at 8, Shepherd Street, Mayfair, Middx., this being the family home of Edwin Alexander Atkins, a boot maker and dealer, born 1862 in Acton, Middx., and his wife, and Anthony’s paternal aunt, Elizabeth Atkins (nee Cunnington), born 1860 in Exton, Rutland, and his cousin Henry George Atkins, a schoolboy, born 1896 in Fulham, Middx. In April 1911 Anthony’s parents were residing in the family home at Old Wood, Empingham and Tickencote, Rutland, together with their children, John, a game keeper, Mary, a schoolgirl, Charles, a schoolboy, Sidney Mason, a schoolboy, born 1902 in Greetham, Rutland and Esther Annie, a schoolgirl, born 1904 in Empingham, Rutland. Prior to the war he was a gamekeeper at Tickencote, Rutland. He embarked for France on the 1st June 1916. He was reported missing on the 22nd August 1917 on the St Julian front during the third Battle of Ypres, when his battalion had led a fine assault which had gained an appreciable section of ground. Enquiries show that he was seen by a Sergeant, who was subsequently wounded himself, lying in a shell hole wounded in the hip, the Sergeant stated that, “he was losing much blood and was very weak and did not think he would last long. He just recognised me and spoke a word. We were making an attack and I had to go on.” Nothing further had been heard, hence he was presumed to have lost his life in his country’s cause.