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John Travers ‘Jack’ Cornwell was born into a working-class family in Essex in January 1900. When he left school in 1913, he wanted to join the Royal Navy but he was too young, so he became a delivery boy instead. In July 1915, with Britain now at war, Jack Cornwell joined the Navy. He began his training as Boy 2nd Class at Keyham Naval Barracks, Devonport.
In February 1916 Cornwell became Boy (1st Class) and, on 1 May, he completed his training. The next day, he became part of the crew of HMS Chester, a newly-commissioned light cruiser which soon joined the fleet at Scapa Flow. At the end of that month, HMS Chester and Jack Cornwell both went into battle for the first time.
HMS Chester was attached to Rear Admiral Horace Hood’s 3rd Battle Cruiser Squadron. Cornwell was the sight-setter for the forward 5.5-inch gun, an important and high-risk role, especially for a new, young rating with no battle experience. Cornwell was responsible for relaying the orders of the gunnery control officer to the gun’s crew and for adjusting the brass sight-setting disc on the gun. His work required intense concentration and meant he had to stand outside the protective gun shield, leaving him exposed to danger.
Late in the afternoon of 31 May 1916, Hood’s battle cruisers were 25 miles ahead of the rest of the fleet as it raced at full speed to support Vice Admiral Sir David Beatty in action against the Germans. HMS Chester was 5 miles in front of Hood’s squadron, passing visual signals between the battle cruisers behind it and an attachment of four destroyers ahead. At around 5.30pm, Chester was sent to investigate gun flashes detected to the south-west of the British ships. Suddenly, through the mist, four German light cruisers appeared. In the confusion of the battle, Chester had run into the German 2nd Scouting Group and was seriously out-gunned. Despite this, Chester turned and opened fire on the enemy ships. But this was in vain. The German light cruisers began to bombard the Chester. Within three minutes, three of Chester’s ten guns were put out of action. The scene on deck was one of panic and devastation. The gun crews lay, dead or wounded, amongst the smashed-up debris of the ship. Cornwell’s team were all killed early on in the action and he was horribly injured. Flying metal shards from German shells had ripped through the 16-year-old’s legs and stomach. But, as the German light cruisers continued to submit Chester to a withering fire, Jack Cornwell remained at his post. Despite his painful injuries and his isolated position, he stayed put, ‘quietly awaiting orders’, determined to see out the battle and do his duty.
For nearly 20 minutes, HMS Chester was under intense shellfire and received at least 17 direct hits. Its captain, Robert Lawson, managed to skilfully guide it away from the 2nd Scouting Group and out of danger. The ship had – somehow – survived, but the carnage that had been wrought meant Chester was out of action for the rest of the battle. In addition to the three guns that had been destroyed, the ship was holed along the side and had suffered more than 70 casualties among the crew. The following day, HMS Chester was ordered to the River Humber and its wounded were taken to Grimsby Hospital. It was there that, on 2 June 1916, Jack Cornwell died from the extensive wounds he had received at Jutland.
After his death in Grimsby, Cornwell was buried quietly, without ceremony. His brave stand by his gun – and his death soon after – might have been forgotten by all but his family. But his actions soon became wider knowledge, when Admiral Sir David Beatty’s dispatch on the battle was printed in newspapers in July 1916. Beatty described Cornwell as “a splendid instance of devotion to duty” and recommended “his case for special recognition”. This brought about a huge public response and led to demands for him to be honoured for his bravery. His mother allowed his body to be exhumed and reburied in Manor Park Cemetery, east London, after a large public funeral on 29 July.
Earlier that month, the question of awarding Jack Cornwell the Victoria Cross had been raised in Parliament. On 15 September, the posthumous honour was announced in the London Gazette. His mother collected his VC from King George V at Buckingham Palace in November 1916. But the public’s enthusiasm for honouring the ‘boy hero of Jutland’, as the Daily Sketch called him, did not end there. A portrait of him by Frank O Salisbury was presented to the Admiralty and 21 September 1916 was named ‘Jack Cornwell Day’. Schoolchildren could buy penny stamps with Cornwell’s image and the money raised provided the Star and Garter Home in Richmond, Surrey with a new ward for disabled sailors. The fund was also meant to help Cornwell’s widowed mother, Lily, and family, but they didn’t see much of the money and Lily died in poverty in 1919.
Naval scholarships and homes for disabled sailors were founded in his memory and, in July 1917, a commemorative plaque was unveiled by Lady Jellicoe at Cornwell’s former school in East Ham. While growing up in East London, Jack Cornwell had been a keen Boy Scout. He was a member of a local Scout troop and earned several badges and an award for helping others. After his actions at Jutland came to public attention, he was posthumously awarded the movement’s Bronze Cross for gallantry by the Chief Scout, Robert Baden-Powell. The ‘Cornwell Scout Badge’ was also created to reward Scouts showing courage.
Cornwell's gun on display at the Imperial War Museum.
In February 1916 Cornwell became Boy (1st Class) and, on 1 May, he completed his training. The next day, he became part of the crew of HMS Chester, a newly-commissioned light cruiser which soon joined the fleet at Scapa Flow. At the end of that month, HMS Chester and Jack Cornwell both went into battle for the first time.
HMS Chester was attached to Rear Admiral Horace Hood’s 3rd Battle Cruiser Squadron. Cornwell was the sight-setter for the forward 5.5-inch gun, an important and high-risk role, especially for a new, young rating with no battle experience. Cornwell was responsible for relaying the orders of the gunnery control officer to the gun’s crew and for adjusting the brass sight-setting disc on the gun. His work required intense concentration and meant he had to stand outside the protective gun shield, leaving him exposed to danger.
Late in the afternoon of 31 May 1916, Hood’s battle cruisers were 25 miles ahead of the rest of the fleet as it raced at full speed to support Vice Admiral Sir David Beatty in action against the Germans. HMS Chester was 5 miles in front of Hood’s squadron, passing visual signals between the battle cruisers behind it and an attachment of four destroyers ahead. At around 5.30pm, Chester was sent to investigate gun flashes detected to the south-west of the British ships. Suddenly, through the mist, four German light cruisers appeared. In the confusion of the battle, Chester had run into the German 2nd Scouting Group and was seriously out-gunned. Despite this, Chester turned and opened fire on the enemy ships. But this was in vain. The German light cruisers began to bombard the Chester. Within three minutes, three of Chester’s ten guns were put out of action. The scene on deck was one of panic and devastation. The gun crews lay, dead or wounded, amongst the smashed-up debris of the ship. Cornwell’s team were all killed early on in the action and he was horribly injured. Flying metal shards from German shells had ripped through the 16-year-old’s legs and stomach. But, as the German light cruisers continued to submit Chester to a withering fire, Jack Cornwell remained at his post. Despite his painful injuries and his isolated position, he stayed put, ‘quietly awaiting orders’, determined to see out the battle and do his duty.
For nearly 20 minutes, HMS Chester was under intense shellfire and received at least 17 direct hits. Its captain, Robert Lawson, managed to skilfully guide it away from the 2nd Scouting Group and out of danger. The ship had – somehow – survived, but the carnage that had been wrought meant Chester was out of action for the rest of the battle. In addition to the three guns that had been destroyed, the ship was holed along the side and had suffered more than 70 casualties among the crew. The following day, HMS Chester was ordered to the River Humber and its wounded were taken to Grimsby Hospital. It was there that, on 2 June 1916, Jack Cornwell died from the extensive wounds he had received at Jutland.
After his death in Grimsby, Cornwell was buried quietly, without ceremony. His brave stand by his gun – and his death soon after – might have been forgotten by all but his family. But his actions soon became wider knowledge, when Admiral Sir David Beatty’s dispatch on the battle was printed in newspapers in July 1916. Beatty described Cornwell as “a splendid instance of devotion to duty” and recommended “his case for special recognition”. This brought about a huge public response and led to demands for him to be honoured for his bravery. His mother allowed his body to be exhumed and reburied in Manor Park Cemetery, east London, after a large public funeral on 29 July.
Earlier that month, the question of awarding Jack Cornwell the Victoria Cross had been raised in Parliament. On 15 September, the posthumous honour was announced in the London Gazette. His mother collected his VC from King George V at Buckingham Palace in November 1916. But the public’s enthusiasm for honouring the ‘boy hero of Jutland’, as the Daily Sketch called him, did not end there. A portrait of him by Frank O Salisbury was presented to the Admiralty and 21 September 1916 was named ‘Jack Cornwell Day’. Schoolchildren could buy penny stamps with Cornwell’s image and the money raised provided the Star and Garter Home in Richmond, Surrey with a new ward for disabled sailors. The fund was also meant to help Cornwell’s widowed mother, Lily, and family, but they didn’t see much of the money and Lily died in poverty in 1919.
Naval scholarships and homes for disabled sailors were founded in his memory and, in July 1917, a commemorative plaque was unveiled by Lady Jellicoe at Cornwell’s former school in East Ham. While growing up in East London, Jack Cornwell had been a keen Boy Scout. He was a member of a local Scout troop and earned several badges and an award for helping others. After his actions at Jutland came to public attention, he was posthumously awarded the movement’s Bronze Cross for gallantry by the Chief Scout, Robert Baden-Powell. The ‘Cornwell Scout Badge’ was also created to reward Scouts showing courage.
Cornwell's gun on display at the Imperial War Museum.