Born in Simla, India in 1890, Captain Cornish died at Ypres of his wounds on 4th June 1916, aged 26. He was mortally wounded as he attempted to repair a telephone line that had been cut during the terrific bombardment of Ypres.

He was the younger son of the late William Hunter Cornish (1855-1892), who served as a Captain in the Indian Army (Bengal Staff Corps), and Harriette Maud Mary Cornish (nee Harris, 1859-1935) of Barford House, Wokingham, England.

His brother, Arthur William Dauncey (1884-1951), served with the Gurkha Rifles and was awarded the DSO in 1918.

In 1897 Philip entered into Class II at St Ronan’s but by 1898 he had dropped to Class III. In 1899 he moved back up to Class II and by 1901 he had moved up to Class IB.

On Sports Day in April 1898 he came second in the under 10s 100 yards and 3rd in the 220 yards. For the coming cricket season he was “the pick of those new to the senior game”. He debuted in the second XI and was responsible for one wicket against Merton House. In 1900 he was credited with being a “very promising little player, all round”. In the 1901 season he scored 55 runs and in a match against Arlington House in 1902 he “started the game by clean bowling two men with his first two balls. Helped by a strong wind which made his balls curl very much in the air, he proved nearly unplayable and came out with the sensational analysis of 8 wickets for 12 runs”.

At Sports Day in 1902 he came first in the junior high jump and third in the cricket ball.

During his final terms he gained his Football Colours and was appointed first as a probationary Prefect; appointment being liable to cancellation or confirmation according to the manner in which duties are executed. In the Autumn term of 1902 he was appointed as a full Prefect.

Philip was the orphan son of an officer in the army and therefore had the good fortune to be elected on to the Foundation of Wellington College to which he passed the qualifying exam. He was given permission to continue his studies at Saint Ronan’s until he reached the age of 12, however his departure from Saint Ronan’s was delayed.

Finally in November 1902, the school magazine reported:
“We consider the above member of our little community (still with us as we write these lines) is entitled to a paragraph to himself. He enjoys the distinction of being the “Doyen” of St Ronan’s boys. He joined our ranks in January 1897, and thus would by the end of the present term have completed a period of six years residence amongst us. We believe this constitutes a record sojourn within our walls; and it is with feelings of profound regret that we announce that the inevitable severance of our association with “P.V.” has suddenly arisen. P. V. Cornish was some three years ago elected onto the foundation of Wellington College, when an intimation was given to us, that he would be summoned, whenever a vacancy occurred, to join that College. That summons, although on more than one occasion threatened, has been hitherto happily deferred, but has on the day we pen these lines been definitely made, and before this appears in print, we shall, with regrets which we know are reciprocated, have parted with the member of longest standing in the school.” His brother, Arthur, also attended Wellington.

In July 1903 he returned to Saint Ronan’s to take part in the Old Boys Cricket Match.

Following Wellington he joined the Army. Philip was in the Blücher from 1902 until 1907 when he then moved into the Royal Military College. He was gazetted to the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment in 1909. The 1911 census shows him as a Second Lieutenant, aged 21, with the West Riding Regiment.

After serving with them in India he resigned his commission to work at Sun Life Assurance Company. He is recorded as moving to Canada in 1913. At the outbreak of the war in 1914, he joined the Canadian Light Infantry and was appointed Signalling Officer. He was promoted to Captain on 29th November 1915.