PETTIT, Cornelius Johnson


No.478900, Private, Cornelius PETTIT
Aged 42


Royal Canadian Regiment
formerly 3728, 1st Bn, Suffolk Regiment
Killed in Action on 8th October 1916


Cornelius Johnson Pettit was born in Hartest on November 5th (4th qtr 1875 Sudbury 4a:480) son of Sarah Ann PETTIT (née PAGE). His mother was married to Abraham PETTIT [1828] born Hartest but is not with her for any census afer 1861. Most of the children do have Johnson as a given name.

1881 census...Aged 5, he was at Bell Cottages, Hartest with his mother Sarah PETTIT [41] married charwoman born Framlingham; brothers George [15] (farm labourer) born Chatham, Harry Johnson [8] born Hartest and sister Lilian Gertrude Johnson [2] born Hartest; boarder Harry Johnson [41] farm labourer born Hartest.

1891 census...Aged 15, a farm labourer, he was was at at The Row, Hartest, mother recorded as widowed house keeper for Harry JOHNSON. With them were Lilian and George.

1901 census...Aged 25 not found in census. He had attested for the Suffolk Regiment on 30th December 1893 (no. 3728). His mother, widowed, had reverted to usinf PAGE as her surnam and was at Parham, Suffolk

1911 census...Aged 35, he was in the 1st Battalion, Suffolk Regiment in Polymedia Camp, Cyprus. His mother, now recorded as widowed, was with daughter Lilian (now Mrs Long, but widowed) in Cambridge.



He enlisted in the Suffolk Regiment on 31st December 1893 in Bury St.Edmunds, giving his age as 18 years 1 month, a labourer born Boxted. He was 5 feet 5.6 inches tall, weighed 124 lbs, chest 32.5 to 34.25 inches, blue eyes, light brown hair, Church of England. initially in 2nd battalion, he was transferred to the 1st Bn on 24-9-1908. He had signed for 7 in Colours, 5 on Reserves but extended to complete 21 years on 3rd February 1905 in Karachi.
He applied for discharge (and pension) on 3rd May 1912, when his intended address was 68 Cambridge Place, Cambridge (with mother and sister Lilian) and on applying to Chelsea Hospital for a pension he had served 11 years 2 months in India, 2 years 4 months in Malta, 2 months in Egypt and 1 year in Cyprus.

When attesting in Canada at Halifax on 16th March 1916 he stated he was born in 1874. He stated he was born in Hartest, had served 21 years in the Suffolk Regiment and his next of kin was his sister Lilian LONG. His address was Wellington Barracks, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
He was 5 feet 6.75 inches tall, chest 37.5 to 41.5 inches and weighed 168.5 lbs. His medals were sent to his brother Harry at 21 Mabfield Road, Fallowfield, Manchester.
He sailed on SS Olympic on 1st April 1916 and arrived in UK on 11th April and taken on strength of 11th battalion at Sandling on 12th April, transferred to Royal Canadian Regiment on 27th April.
Two of his ;letters survived
" War Signal Station, Camperdown 10-8-1914. Dear Brother and Sister, just a line to let you know I am well and hope you and Annie are the same. You must excuse me for not writing before but I have been expecting a letter from you. What do you think of the War and how long do you think it will last. I am expecting to go to Belgium with the Canadian contingent but I am not quite sure yet. I have put you my next of kin so that if anything should happen, which I hope will not, I want you to share with Lilly, George and yourself which will be forwarded to you. I thought it would be best to let you know as one can never tell. I suppose you are getting plenty of exceitement in Scotland, we are getting plenty of it here. We are at present stationed on the coast of the Atlantic at the entrance to Halifax Harbour, looking for German Warships, but so far we have had no fighting. Well old man I must close with best love to Annie and yourself. I remain you loving brother Joe. Please address my letter to Pte C Pettitt F Coy., Wellington Barracks Halifax N.S. Canada and they will forward it on to me"


" My darling Katie, Just a line to let you know I have arrived at my destination. Hope you are well as it leaves me well not Darling. I have an account at the Bank of Montreal, if anything happens to me I want you to write and get it. This is the address Account No 4584 Pte C Pettitt R.C.R., Gottengen St, North End Branch, Halifax N S., Canada. I have about £100. I must close now dear, will write a longer letter next time. I remain your loving Joe XXXX My love to Lily XXX I hope you will be true until I come back Darling XXX
No.478900 Sgt C Pettitt, A Coy. R.C.R. 1 Platoon, 7 Bdg 3 Division B.F. France".



He was killed in an attack North West of Courcelette.


photo CWGC

Cornelius Pettit is commemorated on the Vimy Memorial, France

click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details


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