Name
Frederick Cornwell
1868
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
13/10/1915
46
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Company Quartermaster Serjeant
S/562
The Buffs (East Kent Regiment)
7th Bn.
'A' Coy.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ETAPLES MILITARY CEMETERY
III. D. 11A.
France
Headstone Inscription
HIS CHILDREN WILL ARISE AND CALL HIM BLESSED
UK & Other Memorials
Letchworth Town Memorial, Church of St Nicholas Memorial, Norton
Pre War
Frederick Cornwell was born in 1868 in Wadhurst, Sussex to John Cornwell, labourer and Mary (nee Weeks).
On the 1871 Census the Family of parents, George (born 1851, labourer), Harry (born 1854, waggoner’s mate), Emily (born 1860), James (born 1862), Elizabeth (born 1864), John (born 1866), Frederick and Hannah were living at Alms House, Wadhurst, Sussex.
Frederick enlisted in the Buffs (East Kent Regiment) on 23 Feb 1886 as Private 2035, giving his occupation as Footman. He was posted to the Depot at Canterbury and by 21 Jan 1891 he was appointed Sergeant.
On the 1891 Census Frederick was a Sergeant living in Barracks at Farnborough. He was placed on Army reserve on 23 Feb 1893 was discharged from reserve on 22 Feb 98. He re-enlisted on 4 Feb 1901 in the Rank of Sergeant.
Frederick married Adeline Howis on 10 May 1891 in Farnborough.
On the 1901 Census the family of parents, Adeline (born 1893), Reginald (born 1895), Kenneth (born 1897), Dorothy (born 1899) and William C (born 1900) were living at 7, Hillside Cottages, Dover, Kent. Frederick was listed as a Sergeant in the Buffs. Frederick was posted 2nd Battalion Buffs on 27 Oct 1902 and promoted to Colour Sergeant on 12 Jan 1903. He was posted to South Africa on 2 Jun 1905 returning to UK on 29 Mar 1908 being posted into 7th Battalion and discharged on 22 Aug 1908.
On the 1911 Census the family of parents, William C, Leslie (born 1902), Ivy (born 1905), Frederick (born 1907) and Albert (born 1910) were living at 6, Sunny Side, Durlock , Ramsgate, Kent. Frederick (senior) was an Army pensioner and working as a postman.
Wartime Service
No Service Record was found for Frederick, who enlisted in the Buffs (East Kent Regiment) as a Special Reservist SR/562 in 3rd (Special Reserve) Battalion before transferring to 7th (Service) Battalion of the Regiment in his old rank of Colour Sergeant. This Battalion was part of 55 Brigade, 18th (Eastern) Division which went to France on 24 Jul 1915. F
rederick was a Company Sergeant Major in ‘A’ Company and noted for Admin and Accounting. He contracted dysentery, and although he had been evacuated to 24 General Hospital at Etaples, near Le Havre ,he died there on 13 Oct 1915 (possibly whilst awaiting to be evacuated to UK).
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £8 10s and arrears of £9 12s was paid to his widow, Adeline, who later lived at 47, Ridge Avenue, Letchworth, Herts. Brother William served as Sergeant M2/055536, Royal Army Service Corps from 15 Feb 1915 to 25 Jul 1920.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Dan Hill, Jonty Wild
