A Long Fuse & Service
Corporal Henry John Cornwell Royal Engineers
The Man Henry John Cornwell was born on 2nd September 1919 son of Percy Ernest Cornwell a Carpenter and former Sergeant in the Cambridgeshire Regiment during World War 1, and Elizabeth (Lizzie) nee Reynolds. He was the middle of three children. Glyn Alfred E born on 7th January 1917 and Percy Denis 3rd April 1921. During 1926 when Henry was only seven, Lizzie, his mother died following a gas explosion in her kitchen and Henry and his brothers were sent to live with their aunt and uncle and their children for a couple of years. Percy senior re-married the next year during the third quarter of 1927 to Amy Cotterill, but the relationship between her and the three boys was sadly not a happy one. Percy Snr and Amy had another child, a daughter Frances Ida born in 22nd July 1933. Henry enlisted, with his brother Percy into the Territorial Army Royal Engineers as a Sapper with service number 2062103, Percy’s being 20462104, during the 1930s. He served as part of the 250 Field Company in Cambridge. He was mobilised in 1939 and posted as part of the British Expeditionary Force to North West Europe, seeing service in the Aix and Somme region of France and involved in the construction of pill boxes, a hospital at Doullens and a bridge at Freyonnes. He was billeted at Rosult and Coutiches. Following the German invasion of Belgium in May 1940 Henry found himself withdrawing to Lille with his unit and becoming involved in the demolition of bridges and houseboats en route. They withdrew yet further to Ronchin and Bailleul where they were subjected to heavy German air attacks. There then followed a forced march towards Dunkirk but on the way they were diverted to Bray Dunes where upon arrival they were again prone to air attacks and artillery bombardment. With the assistance of the Military Police Henry’s unit constructed a lorry pier in order to embark via tenders onto Royal Navy ships for evacuation. On 1st June 1940 Henry eventually boarded a paddle steamer from Bray Dunes and set sail for England landing at Margate the next day and then travelling to Liverpool in a sealed train. For his part in the evacuation Henry became eligible for the award of the Dunkirk medal. Once back in the UK he married Elsie May Lemmon during the third quarter of 1940 and they had three daughters, Patricia Ann born in 1942, Carol June 5th January 1947 and Hazel Marie 5th December 1947. At about this time they lived at 4 Hills Road, Cambridge. Henry served at home for the rest of the war in EOD Bomb disposal, occasionally visiting other theatres of war to ‘mop up’ the munitions. He may have been in 18 Coy Royal Engineers in 1942/43 or 28 Coy, in North Africa, but if he was, did not qualify for any named Campaign Stars.
Following the war Henry was awarded the 1939-45 Star, Defence Medal and War Medal 1939-45 and in the Army Order dated 20th January 1946 the Efficiency Medal ‘Territorial’ and subsequently the first clasp. Following the war he served a full career with the Post Office as a Postman in Cambridge and was awarded the Imperial Service Medal upon his retirement aged 60 in October 1979. Henry, who was described as a quiet serious type, contacted Huntingdon’s disease in later life and was admitted to a nursing home. He died in Cambridge on 21st November 1998 aged 79 and was cremated on 1st December at Cambridge Crematorium, Elsie having pre-deceased him in 1989.
Following the war Henry was awarded the 1939-45 Star, Defence Medal and War Medal 1939-45 and in the Army Order dated 20th January 1946 the Efficiency Medal ‘Territorial’ and subsequently the first clasp. Following the war he served a full career with the Post Office as a Postman in Cambridge and was awarded the Imperial Service Medal upon his retirement aged 60 in October 1979. Henry, who was described as a quiet serious type, contacted Huntingdon’s disease in later life and was admitted to a nursing home. He died in Cambridge on 21st November 1998 aged 79 and was cremated on 1st December at Cambridge Crematorium, Elsie having pre-deceased him in 1989.
The Story This group of medals awarded to Henry John Cornwell were acquired on e-Bay in June 2005. They were part of a larger family collection which had been separated by the dealer, who clearly had little idea of the importance of keeping items of family history together, despite the fact they had been so for 87 years! The entire lot was sold to the dealer by the Henry Cornwell’s daughter and included the following items, split on e-bay as indicated.
1. Henry Cornwell’s medals and decorated bomb fuses.
2. Henry Cornwell’s Tommy Helmet and souvenir belt.
3. Sergeant 278 Percy Cornwell’s (Henry’s Father) World War 1 1914-15 Star and Victory Medal, Cambridgeshire Regiment.
4. Picklehaube helmet & trench fighting knife (bought from trenches by Percy)
Although Henry’s medals were acquired, all the other items were separated and sold to different collectors, Percy’s medals for a very high cost. Following some enquiries with the other collectors it was possible to acquire the souvenir belt, and it was discovered that another collector already had the 1914-18 British War Medal and Territorial Efficiency Medal for Percy Cornwell, thus he had wanted that group and paid handsomely for them. The only additional biographical details available were from ancestry.com. Although there are a lot of Henry John Corrnwells on ancestry, his details were found by locating the London Gazette entry confirming the award of his ISM in 1979 and that he worked in Cambridge. It was then possible to estimate a date of birth 60 years before, 1909, and then to locate a date of death and birth in Cambridge. The birth details showed his mothers maiden name as Reynolds, and by linking this to corresponding marriage records to Percy Cornwell in 1916, the details were confirmed. In December 2014, just short of 10 years after their acquisition a distant relative of Henry's made contact via the web site. The relative’s - Henry’s first cousin once removed - Grandmother, had been Lizzie Cornwell’s (Henry’s Mother) sister. As a result of the contact much further useful detail was provided enabling Henry's biography to be extended and also that of his Brother, Percy Denis to be created, his service records obtained and medal entitlement confirmed. Percy, who had died working on the Burma Railway during World War II and buried at Thanbyuzayat Commonwealth War Grave Cemetery in Burma was visited during January 2014 and poppies placed on his grave. Further contact with local researcher in Cambridge revealed a little more detail on the Cornwell family including a photograph of Percy Senior and the fact he had been injured during World War I, thus allowing his biography to be created also. .
1. Henry Cornwell’s medals and decorated bomb fuses.
2. Henry Cornwell’s Tommy Helmet and souvenir belt.
3. Sergeant 278 Percy Cornwell’s (Henry’s Father) World War 1 1914-15 Star and Victory Medal, Cambridgeshire Regiment.
4. Picklehaube helmet & trench fighting knife (bought from trenches by Percy)
Although Henry’s medals were acquired, all the other items were separated and sold to different collectors, Percy’s medals for a very high cost. Following some enquiries with the other collectors it was possible to acquire the souvenir belt, and it was discovered that another collector already had the 1914-18 British War Medal and Territorial Efficiency Medal for Percy Cornwell, thus he had wanted that group and paid handsomely for them. The only additional biographical details available were from ancestry.com. Although there are a lot of Henry John Corrnwells on ancestry, his details were found by locating the London Gazette entry confirming the award of his ISM in 1979 and that he worked in Cambridge. It was then possible to estimate a date of birth 60 years before, 1909, and then to locate a date of death and birth in Cambridge. The birth details showed his mothers maiden name as Reynolds, and by linking this to corresponding marriage records to Percy Cornwell in 1916, the details were confirmed. In December 2014, just short of 10 years after their acquisition a distant relative of Henry's made contact via the web site. The relative’s - Henry’s first cousin once removed - Grandmother, had been Lizzie Cornwell’s (Henry’s Mother) sister. As a result of the contact much further useful detail was provided enabling Henry's biography to be extended and also that of his Brother, Percy Denis to be created, his service records obtained and medal entitlement confirmed. Percy, who had died working on the Burma Railway during World War II and buried at Thanbyuzayat Commonwealth War Grave Cemetery in Burma was visited during January 2014 and poppies placed on his grave. Further contact with local researcher in Cambridge revealed a little more detail on the Cornwell family including a photograph of Percy Senior and the fact he had been injured during World War I, thus allowing his biography to be created also. .
The fuse on the left is an EI AZC50 15 Rhs 195-39 44b. It is a German electrical ipact fuse for a 50kg bomb, this was the smallest general purpose bomb. Rhs is the fuse factory Reeinmetal-Borsig AG werk Sommerda. It is the 44th batch of 10,000 from batch B dated 1939. The one on the right is EI AZ Abmv 1941 2E. A German electrical impact long delay clockwork fuse made by Reheinmetal at their Sommerda plant in 1941, batch E of 10,000.
Medal Details:
- 1939-45 Star: Unnamed as awarded.
- Defence Medal: Unnamed as awarded.
- War Medal 1939-45: Unnamed as awarded.
- Imperial Service Medal: HENRY JOHN CORNWELL
- Efficiency Medal: 2062103 CPL. H.J.CORNWELL. R.E.
This page last updated 6 Jun 15