Tower Hill Memorial
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Arthur Robert Cornhill was born 1886 at Whitstable, Kent, the eldest of 5 known children, 3 sons and 2 daughters, father Arthur Cornhill born 1862 at Whitstable, a seaman and mother Elizabeth (Lizzie) Mockett Wilkinson native of Thanet born 1864, were married at Thanet, Kent in 1885. In 1891 living at Sea Wall, Whitstable, Arthur aged 14 and his father are both listed as mariners.
Stationed at South Shields as part of the Mercantile Marine he obtained his certificate as First Mate, February 7th 1912 at the age of 26 years. September 13th 1913 he qualified as Master and also married in the district of South Shields, Jane Isabella Finlay born May 3rd 1891 at Birtley, County Durham.
March 1st 1915 the British Government announced that Germany had declared the English Channel, the north and west coast of France and the waters round the British Isles as, "a war area" and that they would destroy "any enemy ships found in those areas, without regard to the safety of crew or passengers of any merchant vessel under any flag". As Pilot, Arthur Robert Cornhill was assigned to the Vigilant, a wooden ketch in use as a pilot cutter completed in 1879 for The Corporation of Trinity House.
The Vigilant sank September 26th 1915 after striking a mine laid by German an U Boat UC-7 commanded by Oberleutnant zur See Franz Wäger, approximately 3 cables South-East of the South Shipwash Buoy. Pilot Arthur Robert Cornhill Mercantile Marine in records is listed to have drowned, September 26th 1915, aged 29 years old. His sacrifice is recorded at Tower Hill Memorial which commemorates men and women of the Merchant Navy and Fishing Fleets who died in both World Wars and who have no known grave. It stands on the south side of the garden of Trinity Square, London.
His widow received all monies due to him and after probate at Ipswich, November 20th 1915, his effects in the sum of 409 pounds 19 shillings 8 pence, also his award of the Mercantile Marine Medal sent to her at 6, Wood Terrace, Pelaw, County Durham.
She remarried at Gateshead in 1923 to Albert Hudson Ward born 1892 at Bill Quay, County Durham and who died May 10th 1958 aged 82 years. Jane Isabella Ward-Cornhill nee Finlay died in 1986, registered in the district of Gateshead, aged 94 years. It appears there were no children from either of her marriages.
The CWGC has in error recorded the vessel in question in this article as the Valiant instead of the Vigilant.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Arthur Robert Cornhill is remembered at Heworth on H92.03, at Hebburn on H93.15 as A.J. Cornhill, and on our List of Ships’ crews.
