FAMILIAR FIGURE IN THE FISHMARKET
Death of Mr. Amos W. CORNISH
Kindly contributed by David Cornish
Well-known in the Fishmarket at Folkestone, Mr. Amos William CORNISH, 67, of Charlotte Street, Folkestone died recently.
He was the son of Mr. W. A. CORNISH and came of a family long associated with the fishing industry. He was educated at St. Peter's School.
Mr. CORNISH first went to sea at the age of 10. During the 1914-18 war he entered the Royal Navy, serving for some time on Channel minesweepers.
He was at the Zeebrugge attack in 1918, being a member of the crew of a hospital ship anchored just off the Belgian coast. He assisted in taking casualties aboard and in looking after their welfare while they were brought to England.
BOMBING ESCAPE
He narrowly missed death when Chatham Barracks were bombed by German 'planes. Stationed at the barracks, he was in the town at the time of the raid.
When a young man, in the days before local fishing boats were equipped with engines, he was one of a crew of four who were swept out to sea in a gale off Folkestone.
They were afloat for a week, and when their provisions for one night had been exhausted, they lived entirely on fish which they caught and boiled in sea water.
After World War I Mr. CORNISH returned to Folkestone, but he was unable to make fishing trips owing to a skin disease which developed on his arms and hands.
The affliction, which disappeared entirely each Autumn, recurred every year in the Spring for the remainder of his life.
FERRYING
He continued to make ferrying trips and to work in the fishmarket during the winter months, but he was compelled to stay ashore in the Summer.His only hobby was darts, and in his younger days he was well known for his skill at the game.
His brother, Mr. Richard CORNISH, was a member of the crew of the ill-fated FE 61, blown up by a German mine near Dungeness in 1940.
Mr. A. W. CORNISH, who was married nearly forty-six years, leaves a widow, two sons and four daughters.
The funeral took place at St. Peter's Church and at Hawkinge cemetery.
David Cornish
is the grandson of Amos W Cornish
