Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Edward Mansell, born 1849 in Leicester and his wife Annie Louisa Mansell (nee Culley, married in September 1871 in the Leicester district), a milliner, born 1848 in Tugby, Leicestershire. Cornelius, a schoolboy, was born in the 4th quarter of 1877 in New Humberstone, Leicester, he had one sibling, a sister Edith, a schoolgirl, born 1877 in New Humberstone, Leicester, in April 1881 the family were residing at 56, Catherine Street, Leicester, this being the family home of his widowed maternal grandmother, Ann Culley, a haberdasher, born 1812 in Scraptoft, Leicestershire. In April 1891 Cornelius, was employed as a shoe trade worker and was residing in the family home at Gresham Street, Leicester, together with his widowed mother, a milliner and dressmaker and his sister Edith, a hosiery trade worker, also residing with the family was Cornelius’s cousin, George E. Culley, a schoolboy, born 1883 in Leicester. In March 1901 Cornelius was absent from the family home at 88, Bruin Street, Leicester, residing there was his step father, William Dyson Kimber, an engineer’s labourer, born 1853 in Lutterworth, Leicestershire, his mother Annie Louisa Kimber (Married in the 2nd quarter of 1893 in the Leicester district) and his sister Edith a boot trade skiver. In April 1911 Cornelius was employed as a town postman and was residing in the family home at 71, Brandon Street, Leicester, together with his wife Maria Mansell (nee Charles, married on the 2nd March 1908 in St. Michael’s Church, Belgrave, Leicester), a hosiery trade linker, born 1881 in Leicester. In the 4th quarter of 1921 in the Leicester district, Cornelius’s widow married George Hawley. Cornelius was officially registered at birth with the latter spelling of his name, however he had been variously known as Conners, Cenger and Cornelins. His father died on the 6th February 1879 in Leicester, aged 29 and his mother died in December 1916 in Coventry, Warwickshire, aged 68.
Cornelius’s Army enlistment documents do not survive, all that is known of his military service is that he enlisted into the King’s Royal Rifle Corps, being allotted the service number 1142, and was posted as a Rifleman to the 2nd Battalion King’s Royal Rifle Corps and with this unit he first entered the theatre of war in France on the 13th August 1914. Given his early entry into the war would indicate that he had been a Reservist and was mobilized at the outbreak of hostilities. He was posted missing in action assumed to have been killed on or after the 31st October 1914. He was awarded the 1914 STAR, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
The War Diary records: 31 Oct-14 – About 11.00am a report was received that the line was broken on our left and that the Welsh were retiring. At the same time some troops broke and the Germans occupied a wood enfilading our right - “A” and “B” Companies being -?- for some time under heavy fire and kept the Germans back, but eventually had to fall back to the North side of the road. The Machine Guns now came up and opened fire from behind a barrier. All went well till some Germans came up close to the barrier and fired point blank into the right of the line. HOWARD-BURY who was now in Command, all the officers of “A” Company having been killed and wounded, now gave the order to fall back on the trenches in front of the Chateau – he brought back the Company in good order covered by Machine Gun fire. -?- did splendid work, and got both Guns away, but had to leave his tripods temporarily. Meanwhile “C” and “D” Companies who carried the retirement under Major WARNE had also fallen back, as their flanks were exposed – Eventually the Battalion, now reduced to about 150 men, advanced to a line South of VELDHOEK, which they held till about 1.00am. When “C” and “D” Companies moved down towards the right of the line under HOWARD-BURY, and “A” and “B” Companies were withdrawn to the Chateau in support. UPTON was wounded just before this retirement began, and the Colonel soon after when going through the Chateau grounds to report to Brigade Headquarters. Major PHILIPS then assumed Command of the Battalion. Casualties 2 Officers killed. 2nd Lieutenant DEAN wounded and missing. Captain SPOTTISWOODE, 2nd Lieutenant St. AUBYN and GOAD wounded. Lieutenant Colonel SEROCOLD, Captain SEYMOUR, Lieutenant UPTON, Lieutenant BOUVERIE and 2nd Lieutenant FISHER. N.C.O.’s and men about 400 killed, wounded and missing.
On Thursday February 4th 1915 The Leicester Journal published the following article under the heading. “LEICESTERSHIRE AND THE WAR.” – A LEICESTER RIFLEMAN MISSING.- Not since the end of October has Mrs. Mansell, of 71, Brandon-street, Leicester, had any direct or official news of her husband, Rifleman C. Mansell, No.1142, A Company, 2nd King’s Royal Rifles, who went to the front with the Expeditionary Force. Indirectly she has heard through a soldier in the same regiment that a Rifleman Mansell was wounded and was afterwards believed to have been taken prisoner by the enemy. Mrs. Mansell would be glad if anyone could give authentic information.
On Saturday February 6th 1915 The Leicester Chronicle and Leicestershire Mercury published the following article under the heading. “LEICESTERSHIRE AND THE WAR.” – LOCAL CASUALTIES. Not since the end of October has Mrs. Mansell, of 71, Brandon Street, Leicester, had any direct or official news of her husband, Rifleman C. Mansell, No. 1142, A Company, 2nd King’s Royal Rifles, who went to the front with the Expeditionary Force. Indirectly she has heard through a soldier in the same regiment that a Rifleman Mansell was wounded and was afterwards believed to have been taken prisoner by the enemy. Mrs. Mansell would be glad if anyone could give authentic information.
On Tuesday February 9th 1915 The Leicester Journal published the following article under the heading. “LEICESTERS ROLL OF HONOUR.” – Rifleman C. Mansell, of “A” Company, 2nd King’s Royal Rifles, who has been unofficially reported missing since October 31st. His wife, who resides at 71, Brandon-street, Leicester, has been unable to obtain any news of him since that date. (A photograph accompanied the
article).