Cornelius, Richard Longfield

died 3 June 1879 at his residence Bank Street, Timaru aged 54 years
buried row 22 plot 51 (new), Timaru Cemetery.

Timaru Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 1467, 4 June 1879, Page 2

Obituary. — An old Crimean veteran was buried in the Timaru Cemetery yesterday. Richard Longfield Cornelius was born of a very respectable family, in the Queen's County, Ireland, in the year 1825, and was therefore fifty-four years of age at the time of his death, which occurred last Monday night, at his residence, Timaru.

He first joined the Royal Irish Constabulary, and afterwards the 31st Regiment of Foot, in which he soon was promoted to the rank of a Sergeant. He was present at the attempt to take the Redan, Sebastpol (sic), on the 18th of June, 1855, when his regiment was repulsed; and afterwards at its taking on the 8th of September of the same year, and we were told by some of those who were with him at the time, that there was not a more active, or a more efficient sergeant attached to his regiment.

On his return from the Crimea he severed his connection with the Army, and obtained an appointment as guard on the Great Southern and Western Railway, and was subsequently employed in a, similar position on the Enniskillen line. After having filled these positions creditably for some years, he became proprietor of livery stables at the Curragh of Kildare, and was well known in sporting circles as being the boldest horseman and the best steeplechase rider in that part of the country.

About five years ago he came to this town, and the respect in which he was held was testified by the large number of friends which followed his remains to the grave yesterday.

Timaru Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 1468, Thursday 5 June 1879, Page 2