Cornish, Lionel
1927 Corporal Lionel St Clair Cornish MM - 7th Battalion AIF
Lionel St Clair Cornish was born in Fremantle WA on the 8th April 1893 to Henry and Caroline Cornish. He was one of six siblings, with, Charlotte 1877, Isabella 1881, Samuel 1883, Francetta 1888 and Albert 1890.
His father died on the 2nd December 1906 in Fremantle, and Lionel stayed at 40 Russell Street (later renumbered to 12 Russell).
He grew up and was educated in Fremantle. After leaving school Lionel took up work on the water, becoming involved in fishing and working as a sailor on the coastal steamers.
It was while Lionel was working as a sailor and his ship arrived at Melbourne when he decided to enlist in the Australian Imperial Force and as a result he would be assigned to a Victorian unit.
On the 18th January 1915 Lionel successfully enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force. He was found to be fit for enlistment with the medical examiner recording his physical attributes as;
Height - 5 feet 7 inches;
Weight - 10 Stone 6;
Chest Measurement - 34-37 inches;
Complexion - Sallow;
Eyes - Brown;
Hair - Dark Brown.
After his successful enlistment, Lionel was sent to Broadmeadows Camp. He initially had six weeks in the training depot and then on the 2nd March 1915 was assigned to the 5th reinforcements to the 7th Battalion AIF. He was given the regimental number 1927.
Lionel trained with this reinforcement group through the next six weeks while they waited for their embarkation orders to arrive. On the 17th April 1915 they entrained for Port Melbourne where they boarded the transport ship HMAT Hororata. The ship then set sail for Egypt, arriving there in late May 1915.
Unfortunately his records for 1915 are missing but Lionel would have joined the 7th Battalion on Gallipoli around 10th July 1915 when the other men in his reinforcement group arrived there.
Lionel would have fought at the Lone Pine action in August 1915 when Turkish trenches were captured and he came through unscathed. Lionel appears to have served through the Gallipoli campaign with the 7th Battalion and then returned to Egypt with them in January 1916.
Lionel then trained with the 7th Battalion in Egypt but he did not leave with them for France in March 1916. Lionel was taken on strength of the Australian Army Provost Corps and became a Military Policeman.
He remained in Egypt on police duties for the next few months however he was soon transferred to England. On the 2nd August 1916 Lionel boarded the transport ship Franconia and set sail for England. He was sent to the Provost HQ in London and worked in England for a few weeks.
In September 1916 he reportedly got married in England to Edith Saunders.
On the 8th October 1916 Lionel was sent to France for duty with the Provosts though it doesn't specify where he was based.
On the 26th October 1916 Lionel was sent to hospital suffering from bronchitis. He was sent to the 26th General Hospital at Etaples. After a week he was then assigned to a Convalescent Camp. Lionel was in the Convalescent Camp for several weeks, only returning to the 1st Australian Division Base Depot on the 28th December 1916. He then spent the next two months in the Base Depot Camp while he regained full fitness.
Lionel then rejoined the 7th Battalion on the 1st March 1917. Lionel then saw action around the Outpost line villages in front of the Hindenburg Line through March and April 1917 and then at the Bullecourt action in May 1917. He came through these engagements unscathed.
In June 1917 the 7th Battalion were withdrawn from the front line for a well deserved three month rest period.
On the 28th June 1917 Lionel was hospitalised with debility and scabies and was away from his unit for nearly two months, being released from hospital on the 22nd August 1917.
It appears that Lionel then took some time to return to his unit as on the 5th September 1917 he was detained by the Provosts for being absent without leave. He was returned to his unit on the 28th September 1917.
Lionel had missed his Battalion's first action at the Third Battle of Ypres on September 20th 1917 but served during October and November 1917 seeing action at Zonnebeke, Broodseinde Ridge and Passchendaele.
On the 22nd November 1917 Lionel was sent to hospital with an injury to his hand. He was sent to Boulogne where he was admitted to the 3rd Canadian General Hospital. He spent four days here and was then evacuated to England.
On the 26th November 1917 Lionel was admitted to the Colchester Military Hospital. He only spent a week here and on the 3rd December 1917 was transferred to the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Dartford. After two days here Lionel was granted a two week furlough.
On the 19th December 1917 Lionel then reported for duty to No.1 Command Depot Camp at Sutton Veny. On the 5th January 1918 he was transferred to the Overseas Training Brigade Camp at Longbridge Deverell. On the 1st February 1918 Lionel returned to France and rejoined his unit on the 6th February 1918. The 7th Battalion were then in the line in Belgium south east of Ypres.
A week later Lionel was sent away ill with debility and it appeared quite serious as he remained under medical care through the next few months. He rejoined the 7th Battalion on the 27th April 1918.
The 7th Battalion were then in the line in Northern France near Meteren and Merris. The 7th Battalion were heavily involved around these towns and Nieppe Forrest. Lionel served with the 7th Battalion in this sector through to the end of July 1918.
The 7th Battalion, as part of the 1st Australian Division, was then transferred to the Somme battlefield where they joined the other Australian Divisions.
On the 8th August 1918 the large offensive commenced when Australian, British and Canadian units advanced on the Amiens front. The attack was a success which broke through the German lines. Lionel and the 7th Bn were not involved in the first day but came into the front on the 9th and 10th August 1918 around Lihons.
Lionel distinguished himself over these few days. He was recommended for the Distinguished Conduct Medal. The recommendation reads;
For gallant and conspicuous conduct near Lihons on the 11th August 1918. During a counter attack by a superior enemy force, this soldier showed great bravery and devotion to duty under well directed and heavy machine gun fire. He collected ammunition and bombs regardless of personal danger, carried messages under heavy fire and guided men forward to reinforce that part of the line being attacked. He then seized and worked a Lewis Gun when all the guns crew had become casualties. He also went forward and reconnoitered the enemy's position locating hostile machine guns. He then brought such fire to bear on the enemy from his new position as to entirely draw all fire from his comrades. His actions are worthy of the highest praise for they had a splendid effect upon the sorely tried garrison.
Lionel did not received the DCM but was instead awarded the Military Medal. He continued to serve with the 7th Battalion at the front till September 19th 1918 when they were then given a rest from the front line. The 7th Battalion was still out of the action when the Armistice was announced on the 11th November 1918.
On the 19th November 1918 Lionel was returned to England and was attached for duty with the Australian Provost Corps. He remained in England till the 19th March 1919 but was then returned to France for more duty with the Military Police.
On the 1st July 1919 Lionel returned to England. On the 9th August 1919 Lionel boarded the transport ship Ceramic and set sail for home, reaching Melbourne on the 27th September 1919. He was discharged from the AIF on the 11th December 1919.
Lionel then made his way back to Fremantle. It does not appear that his English wife, Edith Saunders in England, returned to Australia with him, and she appears to have remained in England.
In 1919/20 Lionel was living at 116 South St Fremantle and then was a member of the Australian Permanent forces, being based at the Fremantle Artillery Barracks till 1922.
He then moved to NSW and in 1923 married Elise Brisbane in Marrackville NSW and they would have a son called Lionel.
Lionel returned to WA after a few years and in 1931 was based in Claremont WA where he lived at 2 Victoria Ave and was a yacht club caretaker.
In 1934 his mother died in Fremantle and Lionel then to work in the countryside and by 1936 was at Mt Leonora Kalgoorlie.
On the 26th February 1941 Lionel enlisted for service in the Second World War. He was passed as fit and was assigned duty to the 10th Garrison Battalion on Rottnest Island. He was given the service number W27679. He was based on Rottnest through 1941/42.
In November 1942 he was transferred to the 4th Movement and Control unit and was promoted to Sergeant. Lionel was based in the Western Command area and served in the Perth and country areas of WA.
In 1943 and 1944 he had a few bouts of illness with bronchitis, dysentery and appendicitis but returned to duty after each illness.
On the 31st July 1945 while on duty in Port Headland Lionel Cornish died. He was given a burial in Port Headland Cemetery but in 1946 was exhumed and reburied in Geraldton War Cemetery.