| Description | Work completed by volunteer includes the following information:
A photograph of Cornelius was published in the Beverley Guardian dated 18 Sep 1915, along with three of his brothers, George William, Albert Edward and Ernest Richard, all serving soldiers, together with a photograph of their father, George Hawes. His eldest brother, John James Henry, also later enlisted.
Cornelius was born in 1889 at Cherry Burton, the fourth of five surviving sons of George and Emma Hawes, and attended Bishop Burton school until 1903 when he was “withdrawn to begin work”. In 1911, living at North Newbald, aged 21 he was employed as a Waggoner on a farm.
Medal records show Cornelius served with the Northamptonshire Regiment. he embarked for France in May 1915, and served throughout the war with the Northamptonshire Regiment. He attained the rank of Corporal and survived the conflict: He was awarded the British War and Victory medals and the 15 Star. In Feb 1919 he was discharged as a ‘Class Z’ Reservist.
On 29 Jul 1916, already a Corporal, Cornelius married Ethel Egan, in Beverley Minster, their residence given as Sandholme, Hull Bridge Road. Ethel was the daughter of a shoemaker from Daventry, Northamptonshire, and they subsequently lived in Daventry. In the 1939 Register Cornelius is shown living with Ethel in Daventry employed as a Hospital Male Attendant and also serving as a Special Constable.
Cornelius died, in Daventry, in Oct 1958.
Includes photograph, information taken from census, military records, Commonwealth War Graves, newspapers |