Description
China Medal 1900, no bar, Sidney Cornford, A.B. H.M.S. Isis.
Officially impressed: “S. Cornford, A.B., H.M.S. Isis” Confirmed on the medal roll, with copy service papers.
Sidney Cornford was born on 4th March 1880 in Bexhill, Sussex. He was a young plumber when he signed up with the Royal Navy at the age of 16 as Boy 2nd Class on 19th August 1896.
After coming of age, he signed on for his 12 years of service on 4th March 1898, as soon as he turned 18, on HMS Alexandra.
He first joined HMS Isis on 10th May 1898 and would serve on board throughout the 3rd Anglo-China War or “Boxer Rebellion” until 18th January 1902.
Unusually whilst serving on HMS Egergia on 7th March 1906, he chose to take his discharge out of the Royal Navy by Purchase, with only about 4 years left of his 12 years.
For further research, he appears to be the same 27 year old “Sidney Cornford” who died in Alberta Canada on 1st November 1907. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/123487355/sidney-cornford
