CORNWELL, Arthur
No. 12226, Private, Arthur James CORNWELL
Aged 21
7th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment
Killed in Action on Sunday 3rd October, 1915
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Born in Exning in Q4-1894, [Newmarket 3b:498] son of William T. and Mary M. CORNWELL (née NEWMAN), Chapel Yard, Exning. 1901 census...in Chapel Yard, Exning were Arthur J [6], his father William T [35], a groom, born in Kent...his mother Mary M [35] born Bottisham.... and sisters Florence M [4], Lily R [1]. and un-named baby of one month, all born in Exning, plus nephew John NEWMAN[11] 1911 census...at 2 La Grange Place ( same house as 1901 census)were Arthur, an apprentice butcher, his father was now a labourer in the cement works , his mother and sisters Florence, Lily and Gertrude, plus new brothers, Willie [7] and Bertie[4], both born in Exning. The illuminated Roll of Honour in St Martin's church has him as Arthur Cornwall, as do many other records His younger brother Willie George "Ted" CORNWELL died as a prisoner of the Japanese in WW2, see here
Arthur's entry in"Our Exning Heroes" reads as follows: CORNWELL, A.J. 7th Suffolks Arthur James Cornwell received his education at Exning School and was successful in winning several prizes and medals for regular attendance and good conduct. On leaving school he worked at Mr. Fred Jeffery's and remained there till the outbreak of the war. He joined up at once, and after some months' training, went out to France and was in the battle of Loos. He was killed by a shell on October 3rd, 1915, at the age of twenty-one, death being instantaneous. He was buried at Sailly Labourse. |
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The 7th Suffolks had their HQ in the Chalk Pit, centre of the heaviest shelling, resulting the the 3rd of their Generals to be killed in this action. The
artillery fire from the Germans was very intense and they were so intent on entrenching that rifle fire was at a minimum. After a lull in the shellfire
on the 2nd, the guns and howitzers of the German were again very busy on the 3rd. That night the 7th Suffolks moved back to the support trenches. The Chalk Pit was just NE of Loos, on the western edge of what is now Benifontaine Airfield. Arthur was the only 7th Suffolk man killed that day, the Suffolks 1st battalion incurring severe losses elsewhere on the battlefield at the Hohenzollern Redoubt. |
click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details
