CORNFORD, Herbert R

Herbert Cornford was the son of James and Elizabeth Cornford of 30 South Road, Stourbridge, and attended Stourbridge Grammar School from 1890 to 1898. He was also a member of the Baptist congregation at Hanbury Hill where he was a Deacon and Sunday School teacher and where he was regarded as an 'ardent Free Church worker'. He was also a zealous speaker for Liberalism and a strong supporter of the campaign to gain a Borough Charter for Stourbridge. He had been married only a short time and was living at 60 Hagley Road. He enlisted in the Honourable Artillery Company in February 1917 and was posted to the 2nd Battalion. They were engaged in the Third Battle of Ypres and by late October were on the Menin Road in the fierce battle for Passchendaele. He was killed by a shell on the 28th October 1917. He was 35 years of age and is buried in Perth (China Wall) Cemetery (IV L 13) and commemorated on the Stourbridge, Stourbridge Baptist chapel and King Edward VI College Memorials.