Sergeant Percy Ernest Cornwell Cambridgeshire Regiment
The Man Percy Ernest Cornwell was born in Cambridge during the first quarter of 1892, youngest child of Henry, a Mason’s Labourer and Matilda. He was one of seven children, Alfred born in 1875, Charles 1877, Maud 1881, Harry 1884, Leonard 1888 and Lilian 1890. By the time of the 1901 census the family were living at 108 Gwydir Street in Cambridge and by 1911 78 Ainsworth Street, Henry having sadly died during the 10 years. Percy was now aged 19 and his occupation was Carpenter. On 19th May 1908, Percy enlisted into the Territorial Force, 3rd Battalion, 1st Cambridgeshire Regiment with service number 278, later transferring to the Suffolk Regiment with a new service number of 325023 and promoted to Sergeant. Following the outbreak of World War I in August 1914 he was posted to the front in France on 14th February 1915. Sadly Percy was wounded in action later the same year and awarded the Silver War Badge number B23489. During the third quarter of 1916 he married Elizabeth (Lizzie) Reynolds in Cambridge and was living at Halton in Buckinghamshire. He was discharged from the Army 10th October 1918 suffering from Neurasthenia, an exhaustion of the central nervous system’s energy reserve. Percy was awarded the 1914-15 Star, War Medal 1914-18, Victory Medal, and Territorial Efficiency Medal. Percy and Lizzie had three sons, Glyn Alfred E born on 7th January 1917, Henry John 2nd September 1919 and Percy Denis 3rd April 1921. The three sons were baptised during September 1921 when the family were living at 17 Burleigh Street, Cambridge. Sadly on 18th September 1926 Lizzie died in hospital a few hours after a gas explosion in her kitchen, and just 12 months later Percy re-married to Amy Cotterill. Percy and Amy lived at 64 Sturton Street, Cambridge and on 22nd July 1933 had a daughter Frances Ida who was baptized on 23rd August at St. Mathews Church. Little additional detail is known about Ernest except that he returned to the carpentry trade following World War I and Died in June 1970 and cremated at Cambridge Crematorium 2 July.
The Story See Henry John Cornwell for the story.
This page last updated 4 May 15