List of Cornish soldiers, commanders and sailors facts for kids

Cornwall, a beautiful county in England, has a long and proud history. Many brave people from Cornwall have served in the military, protecting their country on land, at sea, and in the air. This article tells you about some of these amazing Cornish soldiers, sailors, and airmen who became famous for their courage and skills.

Cornwall's Brave Soldiers

Many Cornish people have joined the army, serving as officers and regular soldiers. They have fought in many wars and shown incredible bravery.

• Arthur Agar-Robartes was a British Army officer who also played cricket.
• Thomas Agar-Robartes was another army officer who also served as a Member of Parliament, helping to make laws for the country.
• Harold "Harry" Billinge was a sapper, a type of engineer in the army. He was a veteran of D-Day, a very important battle in World War II. He lived to be very old, passing away in 2022.
• James Carne was a British Army officer who won the VC and the DSO. The Victoria Cross is the highest award for bravery in the British military.
• John Gilbert "Jack" Cock was a soldier who won the DCM and the MM for his bravery. He was also a famous footballer!
• Horace Augustus Curtis also won the Victoria Cross for his courage.
• Robert Davies was a Lieutenant in the Royal Engineers. He was awarded the G.C. in 1940 for safely dealing with bombs, saving St. Paul's Cathedral in London during World War II.
• John Enys was a British soldier who fought during the American Revolution.
• James Fynn was another British soldier who earned the Victoria Cross.
• Sidney Godolphin was a Lieutenant Colonel and a Member of Parliament.
• Albert Jacka was a Captain and the first Australian soldier to win the Victoria Cross during the Gallipoli campaign in World War I. His family originally came from St Buryan in Cornwall.
• Sir Arthur Olver was a Lieutenant-Colonel in the British army and an expert on animal care.
• Rick Rescorla was a U.S. war hero who sadly died during the 9/11 attacks in 2001.
• Steven Roberts was a Sergeant and the first British soldier to die during the invasion of Iraq.
• George Symons was a Captain in the artillery who won the Victoria Cross and the Distinguished Conduct Medal.
• Sir John Trelawny was a soldier during the English Civil War.
• Arthur Tremayne was a Captain who fought in the Crimean War and later became a Member of Parliament for Truro.
• Robert Walling was a Captain in the Royal Garrison Artillery.

Leaders on Land

Some Cornish people rose to become important commanders, leading many soldiers in battle.

• Sir John Arundell was a Cornish Royalist commander during the English Civil War. Royalists supported the King.
• Edward Bolitho was a Colonel in the British Army.
• Charles Edward-Collins was a Major-General in the British Indian Army.
• Sir Wyndham Childs was a Major-General in the British Army and also helped lead the police force in London.
• Sir Walter Gilbert was a general.
• Bevil Grenville and Sir Richard Grenville were both famous Cornish Royalist leaders during the English Civil War.
• Sir Gerald Kitson was a Major General in the British Army.
• Philip Melvill was the Governor of Pendennis Castle in Falmouth, an important fortress.
• William Scawen was another Royalist commander during the English Civil War.
• Sir William Penn Symons was a Major-General in the British Army.
• Richard Trant was a general in the British army.
• John Trevanion was a Cornish Royalist commander.
• John Johns Trigg and his brother Stephen Trigg were officers in the Virginia militia during the American Civil War. Stephen was also a politician.
• David Tyacke was a General Officer Commanding (GOC) in Singapore and the last commanding officer of the DCLI, a famous Cornish regiment.
• James Howard Williams, also known as "Elephant Bill," was a lieutenant-colonel in the British Indian Army and an expert on elephants!
• Sir Charles Wills was a British Army general and politician.

Heroes of the Sky: Airmen

Cornwall has also produced brave airmen who flew planes for their country.

• Guy Gibson was a Wing Commander and a very famous airman. He led "The Dambusters," No. 617 Squadron RAF, who carried out a daring raid during World War II.
• Charles Reep was an airman who also invented the "long ball" tactic in soccer.
• Nigel Tangye was an airman, an author, and owned a hotel in Newquay.
• Geoffrey Wellum was a fighter pilot who won the DFC and later became an author, writing about his experiences.

Air Commanders

Some airmen rose to lead entire air forces.

• Sir Alec Coryton was an Air Chief Marshal in the Royal Air Force.
• John Grigson was an Air Commodore who won the DSO and the DFC.

Cornwall's Seamen

Being surrounded by the sea, it's no surprise that many Cornish people have become skilled sailors and naval officers.

• John Eliot was a captain in the Royal Navy and also served as the Governor of West Florida.
• James Erisey was a privateer, a type of sailor who was allowed by the government to attack enemy ships.
• William Hennah was a Captain in the Royal Navy.
• Robert Peverell Hichens was a lieutenant commander in the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve, winning the DSO and the DSC.
• William Hicks was a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy.
• Sir Edward Nicholl was a commander in the Royal Naval Reserve.
• William Odgers was a sailor who won the Victoria Cross while serving in New Zealand.
• Ernest Herbert Pitcher was a petty officer in the Royal Navy who also won the Victoria Cross.
• The Spry family from St Anthony in Roseland had several members who became commanders in the Royal Navy.
• John St Aubyn was a hereditary peer and a decorated Royal Navy officer.
• Walter Tremenheere was a colonel of marines.
• James Trevenen was a captain in the Russian Navy and also an officer in the Royal Navy.
• Joseph Trewavas was a seaman in the Royal Navy who won the Victoria Cross.
• Mark Versallion was a lieutenant in the Royal Naval Reserve.
• Samuel Wallis was a commander in the Royal Navy and a famous explorer of the Pacific Ocean.
• Charles Bampfield Yule was a lieutenant in the Royal Navy.

Admirals of the Fleet

Some Cornish sailors rose to the very top ranks, becoming admirals and leading entire fleets of ships.

• Sir John Arundell of Lanherne, also known as John Fitzalan, was a naval commander and Lord Marshal of England in the 1300s.
• Sir John Arundell, known as 'Jack of Tilbury', was another admiral.
• William Bligh was the famous captain of HMS Bounty, a botanist, and later the governor of New South Wales in Australia. He became a Royal Navy admiral.
• Edward Boscawen was a famous Royal Navy admiral.
• Sir Frederick Edward-Collins was an Admiral in the Royal Navy and acted as Governor and Commander in Chief of the Fortress of Gibraltar.
• Sir Frank Hopkins was a Royal Navy Admiral and a former captain of the aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal.
• Bartholomew James was a Rear-Admiral and a naval officer who also wrote books.
• Edward Pellew was a Royal Navy admiral.
• Barrington Reynolds was a Royal Navy Admiral known for his work against slavery.
• Robert Carthew Reynolds was a Rear-Admiral in the Royal Navy.
• Sir Bartholomew Sulivan was a Royal Navy admiral and a hydrographer, meaning he mapped the seas.
• Thomas Ball Sulivan was a Rear-Admiral in the Royal Navy.
• Richard Darton Thomas was a Royal Navy admiral.
• Sir John Forster "Sandy" Woodward was a Royal Navy admiral.

See also

• Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry officers
• Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry soldiers