Top Navigation

Robert CORLESS

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 Book

Entry in West Yorkshire Pioneer Illustrated War Record:

CORLESS, Gunner Robert, aged 25, Canadian F.A., Victoria Terrace, [Hellifield], died of wounds, 1916.

---

Click the thumbnail below to view a larger image.

Gunner Robert CORLESS

Gunner Robert CORLESS

Regiment / Corps / Service Badge: Canadian Field Artillery

Regiment / Corps / Service Badge: Canadian Field Artillery

Divisional Sign / Service Insignia: 2nd Canadian Division

Divisional Sign / Service Insignia: 2nd Canadian Division

Data from Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914 - 1919 Records

Soldiers Died Data for Soldier Records

Surname: No entry in SDGW - Canadian Forces.

Forename(s):

Born:

Residence:

Enlisted:

Number:

Rank:

Regiment:

Battalion:

Decorations:

Died Date:

Died How:

Theatre of War:

Notes:

Data from Commonwealth War Graves Commission Records

CWGC Data for Soldier Records

Surname: CORLESS

Forename(s): R

Country of Service: Canadian

Service Number: 89260

Rank: Gunner

Regiment: Canadian Field Artillery

Unit: 5th Bde.

Age: 25

Awards:

Died Date: 27/09/1916

Additional Information: Husband of Margaret Alice Corless, of 7, Victoria Terrace, Hellifield, Leeds, Yorks. (CWGC Headstone Personal Inscription: THY WILL BE DONE)

---

View Additional Image(s)

Additional Photo(s) For Soldier Records

'West Yorkshire Pioneer and East Lancashire News'

'West Yorkshire Pioneer and East Lancashire News'

Gunner Robert Corless

Warloy-Baillon Communal Cemetery Extension

Warloy-Baillon Communal Cemetery Extension

CWGC Headstone - [Personal inscription: 'THY WILL BE DONE']

Courtesy of Al Loyed, Canada

Memorial Service card

Memorial Service card

From a display at St. Aidan’s Church, Hellifield

Memorial Chamber of Canada’s Parliament Buildings, Ottawa

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

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

Craven Herald and Wensleydale Standard Logo

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

West Yorkshire Pioneer Logo

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.”

Submit a Correction

    Name (required)

    Email Address (required)

    Telephone (required)

    Soldier Reference - Name:

    Soldier Reference - URL:

    Details of the correction to be made (required)

    Comment on this Soldier Record

    You can leave comments on this soldier record. Please note all comments will be manually approved before they appear on the website.

    No comments yet.

    Leave a Reply

    Pin It on Pinterest

    Share This