No.13521, Corporal, Cecil Edward CORNWELL M.M. & Bar
Aged 24
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Cecil Cornwell was born in Isleham in 1894 (Newmarket Q2-1894 3B:520), the son of Edward George and Annie CORNWELL (née WEBBER).
1901 census...Aged 7, he was at Church Street, Isleham with his father Edward George CORNWELL [49] a builder; his mother Annie [46]; sister Mabel [21] brothers Harold G.[14] (bricklayers assistant)and Percy E. [11] and sister Emmaline [2]. The whole family were born in Isleham. 1911 census...Aged 17, a bricklayers labourer, he was at Lyndhurst, Church Street, Isleham with his parents, sister Mabel, brother Percy (bricklayer) and sister Gladys E (Emmaline). |
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He enlisted in Newmarket. From Lt Col Murphy's "History of the Suffolk Regiment" it would appear that Cecil got his first Military Medal on February 1st 1917 as he records that:- ".. on February 1 a strong party sallied forth from their trenches (the Germans), but owing to the gallantry and prompt action of 2nd Lieut RC Bolingbroke they were driven off and baulked of their purpose, one raider being wounded and captured. In this affair Pte. C.Cornwell of the battalion scouts greatly distinguished himself." He would seem to have been with the 8th Battalion at that time. It seems that the bar to his MM came on 8th October 1918 after heavy fighting during of the Battle Of Cambrai (8-9th October 1918) a phase of the Battle Of The Hindenburg line, when he was killed in action, age 24. The battalion lost 19 NCO’s and other ranks that day, including the Military Medal and Bar winner Cecil Edward Cornwell and the Military Medal winners Charles Ess, and Archibald Byrant Ware. The 2nd Suffolks were in support for the attack on Seranvillers, with the aim of passing through Red Line and capturing Green Line, the main target being Seranvillers and the road to La Targette. The attack started at 4.30 am and Red Line was captured without much resistance. They then advanced to Green Line, taking all their objectives in time except for La Targette itself. At dusk things quietened down and the enemy evacuated La Targette, leaving behind a few machine guns. The next day the 2nd Suffolks came out of the line to Havringcourt. |
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