The Wartime Memories Project

- HMS Cornwall during the Second World War -


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World War 2 Two II WW2 WWII 1939 1945

HMS Cornwall



31st Mar 1942 Orders

2nd April 1942 Return to Ceylon

4th April 1942 Rejoin Force A

8th Apr 1942 On the Move

9th Apr 1942 On the Move


If you can provide any additional information, please add it here.



Those known to have sailed in

HMS Cornwall

during the Second World War 1939-1945.

  • Beggs Alistair Duncan.
  • Bonnici Carmelo. PO (d.5th April 1942)
  • Burnham Sidney George. Ldg Stkr
  • Dawson Joseph Hugil. Able Sea. (d.5th April 1942)
  • Hancock Fredrick George. Sea.
  • Houghton Ernest. Ldg.Sea.
  • Morrison MID. Robert Edward John. WO2.

The names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed, please Add a Name to this List

Records of HMS Cornwall from other sources.



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Want to know more about HMS Cornwall?


There are:4 items tagged HMS Cornwall available in our Library

  These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Second World War.


Ldg.Sea. Ernest Houghton HMS Cornwall

HMS Cornwall was sunk by the Japanese in the Indian Ocean on April 5th 1942 alongside HMS Dorsetshire. My father Ernest Houghton was a survivor and recently passed away aged 86. He was a staunch member of the Cornwall 1939-42 Association which I believe has disbanded now.

Keith Houghton



Alistair Duncan "Mac" Beggs HMS Cornwall

Six brothers on active service

Alistair Beggs was one of six brothers from Pinetown, Natal, South Africa who fought in WW II. Four brothers were in the Natal Mounted Rifles which became the 1st South African Infantry Division and later the 6th South African Armoured Division, Alistair Duncan Beggs and his brother Louis Raymond Beggs served in the Royal Navy. The six brothers were featured in a local paper, ironically on the very day one year before the tragic attack on HMS Cornwall and HMS Dorsetshire.

Alistair served on HMS Cornwall and, although badly burned on his back by burning oil whilst in the sea, survived the attack by the Japanese on 5th of April 1942. He was born in Pinetown, South Africa on 19th of January 1918 and died in Pinetown in 1987. He was a popular, charismatic man. Sadly, his two children, Gladstone and Iona, were severely disabled but he was loved by the next generation who knew him as Uncle Mackie, and Tarzan. Uncle Mackie was to suffer again later in life when he was attacked on his farm and badly beaten, but again he survived.

Guy Dennis Beggs



Ldg Stkr Sidney George Burnham H.M.S. Cornwall

Sidney Burnham served with the Royal Navy aboard HMS Cornwall in WW2




Able Sea. Joseph Hugil Dawson HMS Cornwall (d.5th April 1942)

My uncle Joe Dawson was 19 and the ship he was serving on, HMS Cornwall, was bombed by three Japanese aircraft carriers during the Indian Ocean Raid. Its sister ship, HMS Dorsetshire, was also bombed at the same time. There were very few survivors.

Josie Dawson



PO Carmelo Bonnici HMS Cornwall (d.5th April 1942)

My grandfather was a Petty Officer on board HMS Cornwall when it sank on 5th April 1942. I am still trying to find some information about his whereabouts during the attack on the ship. If anyone can help, please contact me. PO Bonnici was killed in action on 5th April 1942 and is commemorated on Panel 72, Col. 1 at Plymouth Naval Memorial.

Capt. A. Bonnici







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