Frederick Cundiff
Encyclopedia
Frederick William Cundiff (17 November 1895 – 7 August 1982) was a British
soldier, politician and businessman.
He was the son of Sir Wiliam Cundiff, a prominent businessman and politician in Manchester
who held the office of Lord Mayor in 1922-23.
During the First World War
Cundiff served in the Royal Field Artillery
(RFA), later transferring to the Royal Flying Corps
. Following the war he joined the part-time reserve Territorial Army
, returning to the RFA. He was promoted to the rank of major in 1924. He retired from the TA in 1930.
With the outbreak of the Second World War
Cundiff received a commission as a lieutenant in the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve.
In June 1944, Edmund Ashworth Radford
, the member of parliament for Manchester Rusholme
, died. Cundiff was selected to contest the resulting byelection for the Conservative Party
. Under a wartime political pact, the parties forming the coalition government agreed not to contest vacancies although he was opposed by a Common Wealth Party
and an independent candidate. The poll was held on 8 July, and Cundiff was elected with a majority of 1,760 votes over the Common Wealth candidate. He was to remain as Rusholme's member of parliament for less than a year, as he was defeated by Lester Hutchinson
of the Labour Party
when a general election was held in 1945
by a margin of 11 votes.
The Representation of the People Act 1948
reorganised constituencies throughout Great Britain, and Cundiff was chosen by the Conservatives to contest the Manchester Withington Borough Constituency
which was formed from parts of the previous Rusholme and Withington seats. The new constituency was first contested at the 1950 general election
, and he won the seat comfortably with a majority of over 8,500 votes over his Labour challenger. When a further general election
was called in the following year, Cundiff chose to retire from the Commons.
After parliament Cundiff took up another of directorships in companies including serving as chairman of Threlfalls Brewery
.
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
soldier, politician and businessman.
He was the son of Sir Wiliam Cundiff, a prominent businessman and politician in Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
who held the office of Lord Mayor in 1922-23.
During the First World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
Cundiff served in the Royal Field Artillery
Royal Field Artillery
The Royal Field Artillery of the British Army provided artillery support for the British Army. It came into being when the Royal Artillery was divided on 1 July 1899, it was reamalgamated back into the Royal Artillery in 1924....
(RFA), later transferring to the Royal Flying Corps
Royal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
. Following the war he joined the part-time reserve Territorial Army
Territorial Army
The Territorial Army is the part time volunteer force of the British Army. With around 35,500 members, the TA forms about a quarter of the overall manpower strength of the British Army. TA members regularly volunteer to serve overseas on operations, either with TA units, or as individuals...
, returning to the RFA. He was promoted to the rank of major in 1924. He retired from the TA in 1930.
With the outbreak of the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
Cundiff received a commission as a lieutenant in the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve.
In June 1944, Edmund Ashworth Radford
Edmund Ashworth Radford
Edmund Ashworth Radford was a British Conservative politician.He was the son of George Radford of Manchester and Church Stretton. Following education at Buxton College he became a chartered accountant in 1902....
, the member of parliament for Manchester Rusholme
Manchester Rusholme (UK Parliament constituency)
Manchester Rusholme was a parliamentary constituency centred on the Rusholme district of Manchester. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, elected by the first past the post system....
, died. Cundiff was selected to contest the resulting byelection for the Conservative Party
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
. Under a wartime political pact, the parties forming the coalition government agreed not to contest vacancies although he was opposed by a Common Wealth Party
Common Wealth Party
The Common Wealth Party was a socialist political party in the United Kingdom in the Second World War. Thereafter, it continued in being, essentially as a pressure group, until 1993.-The war years:...
and an independent candidate. The poll was held on 8 July, and Cundiff was elected with a majority of 1,760 votes over the Common Wealth candidate. He was to remain as Rusholme's member of parliament for less than a year, as he was defeated by Lester Hutchinson
Lester Hutchinson
Hugh Lester Hutchinson was a Labour politician who was elected to represent Manchester Rusholme in the 1945 General Election....
of the Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
when a general election was held in 1945
United Kingdom general election, 1945
The United Kingdom general election of 1945 was a general election held on 5 July 1945, with polls in some constituencies delayed until 12 July and in Nelson and Colne until 19 July, due to local wakes weeks. The results were counted and declared on 26 July, due in part to the time it took to...
by a margin of 11 votes.
The Representation of the People Act 1948
Representation of the People Act 1948
The Representation of the People Act 1948 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that altered the law relating to parliamentary and local elections...
reorganised constituencies throughout Great Britain, and Cundiff was chosen by the Conservatives to contest the Manchester Withington Borough Constituency
Manchester Withington (UK Parliament constituency)
Manchester, Withington is a parliamentary constituency in the city of Manchester. It returns one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, elected by the first past the post system...
which was formed from parts of the previous Rusholme and Withington seats. The new constituency was first contested at the 1950 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1950
The 1950 United Kingdom general election was the first general election ever after a full term of a Labour government. Despite polling over one and a half million votes more than the Conservatives, the election, held on 23 February 1950 resulted in Labour receiving a slim majority of just five...
, and he won the seat comfortably with a majority of over 8,500 votes over his Labour challenger. When a further general election
United Kingdom general election, 1951
The 1951 United Kingdom general election was held eighteen months after the 1950 general election, which the Labour Party had won with a slim majority of just five seats...
was called in the following year, Cundiff chose to retire from the Commons.
After parliament Cundiff took up another of directorships in companies including serving as chairman of Threlfalls Brewery
Threlfalls Brewery
Threlfall's Brewery Co Ltd was a brewery company having breweries in Liverpool and Salford. It was active between 1861 and 1961.-History:Lupton and Adamthwaite brewery was purchased in 1861 by John Mayor Threlfall. Threlfalls were registered as a Liverpool based brewer in 1888...
.