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ROSEWARNE, Paul newspaper article





Cornish war hero rarely spoke of exceptional bravery during Battle of the Somme

Paul Rosewarne served in the Royal Naval Reserve and found himself fighting in the mud of the Somme Offensive

Rosewarne, Paul

The story of how a Cornishman was decorated for bravery after storming a German machine gun position in the Battle of the Somme was rediscovered through old documents and newspaper clippings. Bryan Rosewarne, from Porthleven, discovered the papers in the attic of his late sister Pauline. They reveal details of how their father Paul Rosewarne – who went on to found a bus and motor company in Porthleven – risked his life during a desperate action in the First World War. They include a citation for awarding the Distinguished Conduct Medal to Paul Rosewarne, a chief petty officer in the Royal Naval Division, which was created to fight alongside the army.  Mr Rosewarne said his father, who passed away in 1964, was a taciturn man who, like many of his generation, did not talk about the war.

"If I questioned father about the medal, he used to say: 'I killed four Germans. It was either them or us but I wasn't very proud of it. End of story'," said Mr Rosewarne.








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