Main CPGW Record
Surname: CORLESS
Forename(s): Robert
Place of Birth: Lancaster, Lancashire
Service No: 89260
Rank: Gunner
Regiment / Corps / Service: Canadian Field Artillery
Battalion / Unit: 5th Brigade
Division: 2nd Canadian Division
Age: 25
Date of Death: 1916-09-27
Awards: ---
CWGC Grave / Memorial Reference: IV. B. 7.
CWGC Cemetery: WARLOY-BAILLON COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION
CWGC Memorial: ---
Non-CWGC Burial: ---
Local War Memorial(s): Not Listed (View Names Not Listed on a Local War Memorial)
Additional Information:
Robert Corless (born 27 October 1890) was the son of Thomas and Ellen Frances Corless, née McGuire. Both parents were born at Lancaster, Lancashire.
1891 Lancaster, Lancashire Census: 10, Canvas Court - Robert Corless, aged 4 years [sic], son of Thomas and Ellen Corless.
1901 Lancaster, Lancashire Census: 12, King Street - Robert Corless, aged 10 years, born Lancaster, son of Thomas Corless (married).
1911 Lancaster, Lancashire Census: 11, Brittania Street - Robert Corless, aged 20 years, born Lancaster. [Robert was boarding with his uncle and aunt, John and Jennetta (Janet) Townley, née Corless.]
Robert was married to Margaret Alice Chapman in 1915.
In 1939 Margaret (born 24 March 1883) was living with her brother, William, at 5, Kendal Road, Hellifield, Yorkshire.
Robert is commemorated on the Lancaster War Memorial.
Canadian service records: http://www.baclac.gc.ca/eng/discover/military-heritage/first-world-war/first-world-war-1914-1918-cef
Data Source: Craven’s Part in the Great War - original CPGW book entry
View Entry in CPGW BookEntry in West Yorkshire Pioneer Illustrated War Record:
CORLESS, Gunner Robert, aged 25, Canadian F.A., Victoria Terrace, [Hellifield], died of wounds, 1916.
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Gunner Robert CORLESS
Regiment / Corps / Service Badge: Canadian Field Artillery
Divisional Sign / Service Insignia: 2nd Canadian Division
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View Additional Image(s)
Additional Photo(s) For Soldier Records
'West Yorkshire Pioneer and East Lancashire News'
Gunner Robert Corless
Warloy-Baillon Communal Cemetery Extension
CWGC Headstone - [Personal inscription: 'THY WILL BE DONE']
Courtesy of Al Loyed, Canada
Memorial Service card
From a display at St. Aidan’s Church, Hellifield
Memorial Chamber of Canada’s Parliament Buildings, Ottawa
In the Memorial Chamber are the eight ‘Books of Remembrance’ that contain the names of more than 120,000 Canadians who gave their lives in the service of Canada
Source: Canadian Virtual War Memorial (Kindly supplied by Shirley Penman, Clitheroe)
Page from the First World War ‘Book of Remembrance’: Gunner Robert Corless
Source: Canadian Virtual War Memorial (Kindly supplied by Shirley Penman, Clitheroe)
View Craven Herald Articles
View Craven Herald Articles
20 August 1915
CORLESS – CHAPMAN: August 12th (by special licence) at St. Thomas’ Church, Lancaster, by the Rev. F. P. Mansfield, Gunner Robert Corless, of the Canadian Field Artillery, only son of Mr. Thos. Corless, of Lancaster, and Margaret Alice (Cissie) Chapman, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. Chapman, of Hellifield.
20 October 1916
CORLESS – September 27th at the South Midland C.E.S. Hospital, from wounds received in action in France, Gunner Robert Corless, Canadian F.A., husband of Mrs. Corless, Victoria Terrace, Hellifield, aged 25 years.
20 October 1916
HELLIFIELD SOLDIER DIES OF WOUNDS
Mrs. Corless, of Victoria Terrace, Hellifield, has received information that her husband, Gunner Robert Corless, of the Canadian F.A. has died of wounds received in action in France. Gunner Corless, who was 25 years of age, was a native of Lancaster, and was formerly employed by the Midland Railway Company as a fireman at Hellifield. He emigrated to Canada about three years ago, where he worked on the Grand Trunk Railway. At the beginning of last year he enlisted in the 2nd Canadian Contingent, and came to England in July. He was married the following month and went to the Front last January. Sister Kathleen Holmes, South Midland C.E.S. Hospital, in a letter to Mrs. Corless, states:– “He was admitted about 6 p.m. on September 26th with a severe gunshot wound in the chest. Most of the time he was unconscious, but I asked if I should send you any message, and he sent you his fondest love and you are not to worry. He did not suffer pain, but passed peacefully away at 11-45 a.m. on the 27th. The priest saw him many times. I pinned his scalpel on his shroud and he had his rosary round his neck. I am a Roman Catholic myself, and was with him most of the time.”
28 September 1917
CORLESS – In loving memory of my dear husband, Gunner R. Corless, C.F.A., who died of wounds in France, September 27th 1916.
Only those who have lost can tell
The anguish of not saying farewell.
From his loving wife, 7, Victoria Terrace, Hellifield.
27 September 1918
CORLESS – In loving memory of my dear husband, Gunner Robert Corless C.F.A., died of wounds received in action September 27th, 1916.
“A day of remembrance sad to recall.”
From his loving wife, Cissie Corless, Hellifield.
View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles
View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles
20 October 1916
CORLESS – Died of wounds received in action in France, Gunner Corless, of the Canadian R.A., husband of Mrs. Corless of Victoria Terrace, Hellifield, aged 25.
20 October 1916
DEATH OF A HELLIFIELD GUNNER
Mrs. Corless, of Victoria Terrace, Hellifield, has received information that her husband, Gunner Robert Corless, of the Canadian F.A. had died of wounds received in action in France. Gunner Corless, who was 25 years of age, was a native of Lancaster, and was formerly employed by the Midland Railway Company as a fireman at Hellifield. He emigrated to Canada about three years ago, where he worked on the Grand Trunk Railway. At the beginning of last year he enlisted in the 2nd Canadian Contingent, and came to England in July; he was married the following month, and went to the Front last January.
Sister Kathleen Holmes, South Midland C.C.S. Hospital, in a letter to Mrs. Corless, states he was admitted about 6 p.m. on September 26th with a severe gunshot wound in the chest. Most of the time he was unconscious, “but,” she adds, “I asked if I should send you any message, and he sent you his fondest love and you are not to worry. He did not suffer pain, but passed peacefully away at 11-45 a.m. on the 27th. The priest saw him many times. I pinned his scalpol on his shroud and he had his rosary round his neck. I am a Roman Catholic myself, and was with him most of the time.”
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