CORNELL, Harold Gordon
| Service Number: | 715 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 6 October 1916, Claremont, Tasmania |
| Last Rank: | Second Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | Australian Flying Corps (AFC) |
| Born: | Richmond, Victoria, Australia, August 1891 |
| Home Town: | Gormanston, West Coast, Tasmania |
| Schooling: | Scotch College |
| Occupation: | Electrical Engineer |
| Died: | Killed In Action, Baizieux, France, 11 December 1917 |
| Cemetery: |
Dernancourt Communal Cemetery Extension Section III, Grave No J.5 |
| Memorials: | Alfredton Humffray Street State School Roll of Honor, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Queenstown Mount Lyell School of Mines and Industries Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 6 Oct 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 715, Claremont, Tasmania | |
|---|---|---|
| 25 Oct 1916: | Involvement Second Class Air Mechanic, 715, No. 2 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '1' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Ulysses embarkation_ship_number: A38 public_note: '' | |
| 25 Oct 1916: | Embarked Second Class Air Mechanic, 715, No. 2 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps, HMAT Ulysses, Melbourne | |
| 11 Dec 1917: | Involvement Second Lieutenant, Australian Flying Corps (AFC), --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: awm_unit: 68th Squadron Australian Flying Corps awm_rank: Second Lieutenant awm_died_date: 1917-12-11 |
Help us honour Harold Gordon Cornell's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Paul McGuiness
"...715 Private Harold Gordon Cornell. An electrician of Gormanston, Tas, Cornell enlisted on 6 October 1916. Pte Cornell embarked from Melbourne on board HMAT Ulysses (A38), a member of No 2 Squadron AFC on 25 October 1916. He was promoted several times during his service. On 4 January 1917 he was promoted to Corporal, on 6 May 1917 he was promoted to Sergeant and after graduating as a pilot was appointed 2nd Lieutenant (2nd Lt) on 27 October 1917. 2nd Lt Cornell was killed in action on 11 December 1917, aged 26, and is buried at Dernancourt Communal Cemetery Extension, France." - SOURCE (www.awm.gov.au)
Departed Baizieux aerodrome for an Engine Test Flight at 1420 hrs. At approximately 1425 hrs the pilot made a flat turn at 500ft whereupon the machine stalled and nosedived into the ground killing the pilot instantly. The machine was also destroyed by the crash and the ensuing fire. AFC Pilot 2nd Lt Harold Gordon Cornell (26) married of Ballarat, VIC is buried in Section III Grave J.5 of the Dernancourt Communal Cemetery Extension, Dernancourt, Picardie, France. He is also remembered at Location 187 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT.
Biography contributed by Evan Evans
From François Berthout
Today I come to pay my most sincere respects in honor of the memory of Second Lieutenant Harold Gordon Cornell
Harold Gordon Cornell was born in 1891 in Richmond, Victoria and was the son of George and Sarah Cornell and he was the husband of Jessie Millicent Cornell who lived in Lindisfarne, Tasmania and native of Richmond, Victoria.Harold was educated at Scotch College at Melbourne and before the war he worked as an electrician at Gormanston.
Enlisted on 6 october 1916 in the Australian Flying Corps, No. 2 Squadron, C Flight, he embarked as a Private with his unit from Melbourne on board HMAT A38 Ulysses on 25 october 1916.He was promoted several times during his service,on 4 january 1917 he was promoted to Corporal,on 6 May 1917 he was promoted to Sergeant and after graduating as a pilot he was appointed Second Lieutenant on 27 october 1917 and he was accidentally killed on December 11, 1917 at the age of 26.
Departed Baizieux aerodrome for an Engine Test Flight at 14:20pm,at approximately 14:25pm the pilot made a flat turn at 500ft whereupon the machine stalled and nosedived into the ground killing the pilot instantly. The machine was also destroyed by the crash and the ensuing fire.
Today, Harold Gordon Cornell rests in peace at the Dernancourt Communal Extension Cemetery, Somme and his grave bears the following inscription"in glad remembrance"
Harold Gordon Cornell will never be forgotten, his memory will always be honored with respect. Thank you Harold, your courage and sacrifice will always be remembered, you have done your duty nobly and with great courage.At the going down of the sun and in the morning,we will remember them,we will remember him
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