Lance Corporal Keith Arthur Cornish
Royal Armoured Corps (Nottinghamshire Yeomanry)

Early Life

Keith was born in Camberwell, London in 1924. The son of Arthur Frederick and Grace Elizabeth Cornish (nee Warren) later of Addlestone, Surrey.

Military Career

Keith was a radio operator with the 24th Lancers (service number 14318909) but later transferred to the Notts. Yeomanry (Sherwood Rangers).

Keith was a rather interesting character. He was commisioned and sent to an officer training unit but considered himself to be wholly unsuitable to be an officer and told the army so. He was then returned to his unit.

He was again offered a commission shortly after D-day but again refused. He was given a field promotion to Lance Corporal.

On 18 November 1944 the Notts. Yeomanry attacked Geilenkirchen on the Dutch border as part of IOperation Clipper. Keith was with B Squad in a Sherman Firefly tank called 'Pin Up Girl'. It was hit by a German 88 mm flak gun. Tank Commander Lt. Charles was killed together witjh Keith and Fred Gasson. The driver (Trooper Richardson) and the co-driver (Trooper 'Toots' Tutin) bailed out but were badly burned (per 'Dads War' by Andy Cropper).

Keith is buried at Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, near Kleve, Germany (grave 46.k.17). He was jsut 20 years old.