Name
John George (Jack) Cornwell
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
29/06/1916
22
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
6930
London Regiment (Finsbury Rifles)
11th (City of London) Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
DIVE COPSE BRITISH CEMETERY, SAILLY-LE-SEC
II. A. 21
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, Stained Glass Window, Hitchin Boys Grammar School. St Mary's Church Roll of Honour, Hitchin, Silsoe Memorial (Jack Cornwell)
Pre War
Son of William John and Lizzie Cornwell (nee Haddon), of Silsoe, Ampthill, Beds. He was born in Hitchin on the 3rd January 1894 and appears to have been known as Jack.
In 1901 his was living Wrest Park Farm with his mother (aged 34), grandfather Archibald George Haddon (61), older brother Archibald William (10) and cousin Mary Ann Haddon (44).
He attended the Hitchin Grammar School from 1908-1910. It was said that he had an open face, a cheerful smile and was of a loveable disposition when at school. He received a prize for public spirit by the overwhelming votes of his fellow-scholars and the presentation was greeted with ringing cheers. He left school to become a clerk in an engineering office.
In 1911 he was living in the same location and working as an electrical engineer's clerk. The only change in occupants (from 1901) were the cousin, who is not present, but now Lilian Walker - listed as general servant (domestic) was. The reason for his father's absence from the two census mentioned is not explained, but he was alive as he later made a claim for the pension die for Jack's death.
He was recorded as living in Silsoe when he enlisted in Hitchin.
Wartime Service
Jack first joined and then the 21st Royal Fusiliers, entering France on 14th November 1915 and then recorded as attached to the 11th Royal Fusiliers when he died.
Died of wounds
Additional Information
Jack's father, William John Cornwell, was recorded as living at 173 Castle Road, Bedford. A ‘Jack Cornwell Ward’ was instituted in the Star and Garter Home and subscriptions to aid it were raised from the Hitchin Grammar school, but in fact this relates to the boy V.C., Jack Cornwell who was mortally wounded on the 31st May 1916 in the Battle of Jutland and immortalised as "The boy who stood on the burning deck".
Acknowledgments
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Jonty Wild
