THE CORYS

Each year the nation pays tribute at the Cenotaph and at War Memorials throughout the country to those who died in the Great War and others more recent. We pay our own tribute to the Corys who died not forgetting those who survived the ordeal, some bearing the effects on their bodies and minds for the rest of their lives. We remember too the anguish of the families who mourned when their sons, husbands or fathers made the ultimate sacrifice.

We are able to list all the Cory soldiers of the British Army who lost their lives including those who died at home, perhaps of illness or other non-battle related causes. The right hand column contains a list of all Corys who died during both world wars. Although we have the full names of many of the soldiers, not all have been placed on a family tree. If you have information on any of those mentioned, please get in touch and any information we receive will be entered in our records.

wpe3A.jpg (4166 bytes)

1st Cl.P.O. W.R Cory
1888-1917

William Richard, the eldest son of Richard William and Jane Bushell Cory of Deal,
and grandson of
Thomas William Cory
(see Kent page).

After leaving the Central School William was employed by a builder until he joined the Navy in August 1906. He served on the Intrepid, Leviathan and Natal. He was on the Natal when she obtained the prize for the best gunnery in the Fleet. He had been on the Vanguard for about 4 years when toward the end of 1916 he was recommended for the commissioned rank of mate. Having specialised in torpedo work he preferred to put in for an appointment as torpedo instructor, for which he was hoping to qualify.

However on Monday 9^th July 1917 the HMS Vanguard sank in Scapa Flow after an internal explosion. Petty Officer William Richard Cory was amongst the 950 men who died in the terrible accident which resulted in a major Admiralty enquiry. He was 29

Bayeux Cemetery stands along the Rue de Sir Fabian Ware and on the opposite side of this busy road stands the Bayeux Memorial. There are now over 4,100, 1939-45 Commonwealth war casualties commemorated in this site. Of these 338 are unidentified casualties. Looking through one of the Memorial Registers which are kept in a small brass cupboard for visitors to consult, I found the name of
F W Core.

I searched through the orderly rows of bright white headstones, along row after row, passing by others silently searching for that certain stone, feeling almost guilty that I couldn’t stop to read every name – to give each man his due. I felt a terrible sadness for these brave young men and their families.

At last I found plot XII F.16 and the headstone for Trooper Frederick Walter Core, 7896821 of the Northamptonshire Yeomanry RAC. He was 23 when he died on 3^rd August 1944.

I do not know which family he came from, for even the Commonwealth War Graves site records only his name, rank and number but I paid my respects and stopped for a while.