Bandsman Thomas Edward Rendle 1st DCLI
On 20 November 1914 near Wulverghem, Belgium, Bandsman Rendle attended to the wounded under very heavy rifle and shell fire and rescued men from the trenches in which they had been buried from the blowing in of the parapets by the fire of the enemy's heavy howitzers.
Herbert Augustine Carter
Lieutnenant Herbert Augustine Carter, 2nd Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry, attached No. 6 Company, Indian Mounted Infantry. During a reconnaissance near Jidballi, on 19th December, 1903, when the two Sections of the Poona Mounted Infantry and the Tribal Horse were retiring before a force of Dervishes which outnumbered them by thirty to one, Lieutenant Carter rode back alone, a distance of four hundred yards, to the assistance of Private Jai Singh, who had lost his horse, and was closely pursued by a large number of the enemy, and, taking the Sepoy up behind him, brought him safely away. When Lieutenant Carter reached Private Jai Singh, the Sections were several hundred yards off.
Clement Leslie Smith

Lieutenant Clement Leslie Smith 2nd Battalion the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry, attached 5th Somali Mounted Infantry.
At the commencement of the fight at Jidballi, on 10th January, 1904, the enemy made a very sudden and determined rush on the 5th Somali Mounted Infantry, from under cover of bushes close at hand. They were supported by rifle fire, advanced very rapidly and got right amongst our men. Lieutenant Smith, Somali Mounted Infantry, and Lieutenant J. K. Welland, M.D., Royal Army Medical Corps, went out to the aid of Hospital Assistant Eahamat Ali, who was wounded, and endeavoured to bring him out of action on a horse, but the rapidity of the enemy's advance rendered this impossible, and the Hospital Assistant was killed. Lieutenant Smith then did all that any man could do to bring out Doctor Welland, helping him to mount a horse, and, when that was shot, a mule. This also was hit, and Doctor Welland was speared by the enemy. Lieutenant Smith stood by Doctor Welland to the end, and when that Officer was killed, was within a few paces of him, endeavouring to keep off the enemy with his revolver. At that time the dervishes appeared to be all round him, and it was marvellous that he escaped with his life.
 
Henry George Gore-Browne

Captain Henry Gore-Browne 32nd Regiment
On the 21 August 1857 at Lucknow, India, during the Siege of the Residency, Captain Browne led a sortie for the purpose of spiking two heavy guns which were doing considerable damage to the defences. The guns were protected by high palisades, the embrasures being closed with sliding shutters. On reaching the battery, Captain Browne removed the shutters, jumped into the battery and spiked the guns. It is supposed that about 100 of the enemy were killed in this operation.
 
Samuel Hill Lawrence
Lieutenant Samuel Hill Lawrence 32nd Regiment
 For distinguished bravery in a Sortie on the 7th of July, 1857, made, as reported by Major Wilson, late Deputy-Assistant Adjutant- General of the Lucknow Garrison, for the purpose of examining a house strongly held by the Enemy, in order to discover whether or not a mine was being driven from it. Major Wilson states that he saw the attack, and was an eye-witness to the great personal gallantry of Major Lawrence on the occasion, he being the first person to mount the ladder, and enter the window of the house, in effecting which he had his pistol knocked out of his hand by one of the Enemy:—also, for distinguished gallantry in a Sortie, on the 26th of September, 1857, in charging with two of his men, in advance of his Company, and capturing a 9-pounder gun.
William Dowling
Private William Dowling 32nd Regiment
For distinguished gallantry on the 4th of July, 1857, in going out with two other men, since dead, and spiking two of the Enemy's guns. He killed a Soubadar of the Enemy by one of the guns. Also, for distinguished gallantry on the 9th of the same month, in going out again with three men, since dead, to spike one of the Enemy's guns. He had to retire, the spike being too small, but was exposed to the same danger. Also, for distinguished bravery, on the 27th of September, 1857, in spiking an 18-pounder gun during a Sortie, he being at the same time under a most heavy fire from the Enemy.
William Oxenham

Corporal William Oxenham, 32nd Regiment
On 30 June 1857 at Lucknow, India, Corporal Oxenham saved the life of a Bengal Civil Servant, Mr Capper, by extricating him from the ruins of a verandah which had fallen on him. The corporal was exposed to heavy fire while effecting this rescue, which took about 45 minutes to perform.
 
Colonel Fox Killed 1705
During the defence of Gibraltar the regiment's commanding officer Colonel Fox was killed in action.
 

Medals of the Regiments:
The Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry

 
 
The Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry
 'coronet and bugle' white-metal cap badge		 Officers bronzed version.
Kipling and King 641

© Images Copyright ©

 
 
 
 

The Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry

1702-1959
 
 
 
Titles
pre 1881post 1881
32nd (The Cornwall)  Regiment of Foot (Light Infantry)1st Battalion, The Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry
46th (The South Devonshire) Regiment of Foot. 2nd Battalion, The Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry
 
Earliest recognised formation: 32nd Regt: 1702 when raised as Fox's N Regiment of Marines to complement the Navy's fighting troops during the War of the Spanish Succession. Titled 32nd Regiment in 1751.
46th Regt: 1741 when raised as Price's Regiment, becoming the 46th Regiment  in 1751.
 
Motto: ??
 
Regimental Journal:  One and All (2nd Btn: "Cornish Chough" from 1906-29 and 6th Btn 1914-15?: "Red Feather")
 
WWI:Battle Honours; 57Victoria Crosses; 1Died; 4510
WWII:    Battle Honours; 22Victoria Crosses; 0Died; ????
 
Amalgamated:1959; with the Somerset Light Infantry to form The Somerset and Cornwall Light Infantry
 
 
 
2 Battalions of the 32nd Regt. operational 1804-1814
 

Peninsula War 1808 - 1814 1st Battalion 32nd Regiment

Military General Service Medal.  1793 - 1814 clasps:

Total MedalsMax claspsRoleiaVimieraCorunnaTalaveraSalamancaPyreneesNivelleNiveOrthesToulouse
28497610812541961461007811476
 

Two officers also received a Ciudad Rodrigo and Badajos clasp each for earlier service with the 77th Foot, and one officer on the Portuguese list with an 8 clasp medal has not been counted here.

 
Battle Honours: Rolica, Vimiera, Corunna, Salamanca, Pyrenees, Nivelle, Nive, Orthes, Peninsula.
 
 
 

Battle of Waterloo 1815 32nd Regiment

Waterloo Medal 1815

Number:643
 

Battle Honour: Waterloo.

 
 
 

The Second Sikh War 1848 -1849.  32nd Regiment

The Punjab Medal 1848-49

clasp:

Mooltan

Goojerat

number:1105975
 

Battle Honours: Mooltan, Goojerat, Punjaub

 
 
 

Crimean War  1854 - 1856  46th Regiment 

Crimea Medal 1854 -56

 
Clasp: →..none...

Alma

Balaklava

Inkermann

Sebastopol

Total Medals  
Number: →?232137206??  
 
 

Battle Casualties;

Action.KilledDied of Wounds'Wounded'Dangerously
Wounded 		Severely
Wounded		Slightly
Wounded 		MissingTotal
Battle of Inkermann11-27-11-40
Assault on the Quarries -1*-----1
Final Attack on the Redan-----1-1
2nd, 3rd, 4th, & 5th Bombardments of Sebastopol and Minor Actions.10--21521-48
 

Grand Total:     

90

* 2634 Drummer Edward Power "Wounded Mortally"

 

Men who served in the Crimea also eligible for:

Turkish Crimea Medal 1855

 

Battle Honours:  Sevastopol.

 
 
 

Indian Mutiny 1857  32nd Regiment

India Mutiny Medal. 1857 -59

clasp:...none..
Defence of Lucknow
Relief of Lucknow
Total Medals
number:27565323954
 

VCs: 4;  Oxenham,   Dowling,   Lawrence,    Browne

Battle Honour: Lucknow

 
1881: The Regiments now become the 1st and 2nd Battalions, The Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry.
 

Egypt Campaign 1882 2nd Battalion

Egypt and Sudan Medal 1882-89

  
Clasp:...none...

Tel-el-Kebir

Total medals
Number:147696843*
 

*from which 21 "forfeited" and 10 "returned to mint" can be subtracted.

 

Recipients also entitled to a Khedive's Star dated 1882

Battle Honour: Egypt 1882

 
 
 

The Nile Expedition 1884-5  2nd Battalion, with a detachment of 29 serving with the Mounted Infantry Camel Corps

Egypt and Sudan Medal 1882-89

 

 

Clasp:
The Nile 1884 -85

Abu Klea

Number:? 28*
 

*one fatal casualty at Abu Klea, 1657 Pte. W. Jones.

Recipients who had not served in the earlier 1882 campaign would also be entitled to a Khedive's Star dated 1884-6

Battle Honour: Nile 1884-5

 
 
 

North West Frontier Operations 1897-98  1st Battalion

India Medal 1895

clasp:

Relief of Chitral 1895

Punjab Frontier  1897-98

Tirah 1897-98
total medals
number:4902844902
 
View the  Roll

 

 
 
 
 

South African War 1899 - 1902 or "Boer War"  2nd Battalion, (November 1899 - end) + Volunteer companies.

Queen's South Africa Medal 1899-1902, with or without the King's South Africa Medal 1901 - 1902

Common clasps: Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902; also frequently encountered:

 
clasp;

Relief of Kimberley

Paardeberg

Driefontein

Johannesburg

  
numbers;????  
 
 

 

Casualties:

OfficersNCOs and Men
KIA & DOWWoundedMissing / POWKIA & DOWDeath from disease WoundedMissing / POW
2nd Battalion, November 1899 - end of war
4*6132544914
 

*+ 1 death from disease.

 

Battle Honour: South Africa 1899-1902

 
Two officers of the regiment attached to other units received the VC for their bravery in The 1903-4 Somaliland Campaign:-
Carter and Smith
 

The Great War 1914 - 1918  (raised 15 battalions; 10 served overseas:- )

Generally awarded the British War Medal & Victory Medal, most men overseas prior to 1/1/1916 also a 1914 or 1914-15 Star.

Battalion →1 2*1/41/52/46781012
Cornwall
Pioneers		Labour
date of first overseas service.
 (first theatre red x )		15/8
1915		21/12
1914		10/11
1914		22/5
1916		9/1
1915		22/5
1915		25/7
1915		22/9
1915		20/6
1916		?/4
1916
France & Flandersxx x xxxxx
Gallipoli          
Egypt & Palestine  x       
Aden  x       
Mesopotamia          
Macedonia x     x  
Italyx         
India  x x     
           
Star
possible ? 		1914 or 1914-15 x         
or 1914-15 only x   xxx  
VCs at a glance         
died
Extracted from : "Soldiers / Officers Died in the Great War" (consider approximate - in addition 61 officers are recorded with 'battalion not shown' or with battalions not shown here )		13974151592845572165710426141
absorbed by labour Corps 4/17
 

* The second battalion were in Hong Kong when war broke out and returned first to the UK
 

RegularTerritorial ForceNew ArmiesGarrison.

 

Territorial Force War Medal 1914-19
518 officers and men of the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry also qualified for this medal.

 

VCs: 1;  Rendle

 

Battle Honours : Mons; Marne 1914; Ypres 1915, 1917; Somme 1916, 1918; Arras 1917; Passchendaele; Cambrai 1917, 1918; Sambre; Doiran 1917, 1918; Gaza. Le Cateau; Retreat from Mons; Aisne 1914; La Bassée 1914; Armentières 1914; Gravenstafel; St Julien; Frezenberg; Bellewaarde; Hooge 1915; Mount Sorrel; Delville Wood; Guillemont; Flers-Courcelette; Morval; Le Transloy; Ancre 1916; Bapaume 1917, 1918; Vimy 1917; Scarpe 1917; Arleux; Langemarck 1917; Menin Road; Polygon Wood; Broodseinde; Poelcapelle; St Quentin; Rosières; Lys; Estaires; Hazebrouck; Albert 1918; Hindenburg Line; Havrincourt; Canal du Nord; Selle; France and Flanders 1914-18; Italy 1917-18; Struma; Macedonia 1915-18; Nebi Samwil; Jerusalem; Tell'Asur; Megiddo; Sharon; Palestine 1917-18; Aden.

 
 
 

Mesopotamia/Iraq 1919 - 20 2nd Battalion

General Service Medal 1918 -62

clasp:

Iraq

number:?
  
  
 
 
 

WW2 1939 - 1945  

Battalion →1st2nd5th30th
campaign ↓    
France and
Belgium 1940.
(Dunkirk )		 x  
North Africa & Middle Eastxx x
Far East    
Sicily / Italy x  
N.W. Europe  x 
 

Notes.

 21st Indian Infantry Brigade. Suffered heavy losses battle of Bir-el-Harmat (5-6/6/1942)
amalgamated with 1st Kings Own 29/8/42. Reformed in the UK 		10th Infantry Brigade214th  Independent Inf Bde.42nd Infantry Brigade,
 arrived North Africa 25/8/43
then
2nd Sudan Defence Force,
June 44 - March 45.
 
 
 

WW2 Stars common to the Battalion. (excluding 39-45 star )
 Key: A = Africa, P = Pacific, B =  Burma, I = Italy,  F&G = France and Germany

 AA, I.F & G. 
     
 

Most also entitled to the 1939-45 War Medal and many the Defence Medal

 

Battle Honours: : Hill 112; Mont Pinçon; Nederrijn; Geilenkirchen; Rhineland; North-West Europe 1940, 1944-5; Gazala; Medjez Plain; Cassino II; Incontro. Defence of Escaut; Cheux; Noireau Crossing; Opheusden; Goch; Rhine; Si Abdallah; North Africa 1942-3; Trasimene Line; Advance to Florence; Rimini Line; Italy 1944-5.

 
 
 

Jewish / Arab Unrest, Palestine 1945 - 48 1st Battalion

General Service Medal 1918 -62

clasp:

Palestine 1945-48

number:?
  
 
1950: Regulars reduced to a single battalion (the 1st)
 
 
 
 
 

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Selected Links

The Regimental Museum. (Located in )

 
 
 

Selected Bibliography;

 
AuthorTitlePublisher

 

Additional Bibliography for this Page.

 
Author/CompilerTitlePublisher
Officers of the Regiment.Unpublished rolls in the care of the National Archives; WO 100/ etc.-
 Additional bibliography same as Northumberland Fusiliers page  
   
   
 

 

 

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