Charles Corns

Born in Wombourne on 31st December 1877, Charles Corns was the ninth of the 10 children of parents, Charles Corns and Sarah Bromley. He wasn’t baptised until the age of 12, at which time the family was living at Botterham, Staffordshire. The baptism took place at St John’s Church, Swindon.

Charlie became canal boatman before volunteering for the local militia in 1896 and then enlisting in 1898 as a regular soldier. He served with the Coldstream Guards during the Boer War and served with the Colours until his service expired in 1905. He was then discharged to the Reserves until 1910. He volunteered again on the outbreak of the First World War, serving with the South Staffordshire Regiment. He was wounded at Gallipoli, and was discharged in 1916 as being no longer physically fit for war service. He then returned to his pre-Army occupation of a canal boatman.

For details of his war service, see the article about Private Charles Corns elsewhere on this site.