Joe was wounded on first day of the Somme as indicated in his personal communication but this is recorded in military records as taking place in September 1916. Again, according to his personal accounts, after recovering in hospital in Epsom, he arrived back in France 19 September 1916 to resume duties and was not wounded that month. It is generally accepted that various dates over the following couple of months have been recorded for casualties of 1 July 1916. The D.C.M. was awarded to J Cunningham for gallantry in the field in the face of the enemy. J Cunningham was also entitled to use the letters D.C.M. after his name. Bars were awarded to recipients of the D.C.M. in recognition of the performance of further acts of gallantry meriting the award. Conferment of the D.C.M. gallantry award was announced in the London Gazette and accompanied by a citation. Joe's citation for the DCM is attributed to his actions dated 12 October 1917, at Poelcappelle . It was gazetted on 4 March 1918 . The citation notes that he continually visited the men of his company while under heavy shell fire, cheering and encouraging them . Later on that day when enemy snipers were active ,he organised a party of men and took them up to positions in front of the line from where they carried out successful sniping operations against the enemy , thus preventing many more of his men becoming casualties . It concludes his personal example and disregard of danger were an inspiration to all his men.