By William Ferguson

Figure 1.-- Several British boys were involved in notable service during World War I. One of these boys was a Royal Navy sailor, John Travers Cornwell. John was an avid Scout before the War. He stood in for his brother John. He was mortally wounded at the Battle of Jutland--the major naval battle of World War I. He was awarded the Victoria Cross.

Several British boys were involved in notable service during World War I. One of these boys was a Royal Navy sailor, John Travers Cornwell. John was an avid Scout before the War. He stood in for his brother John and enlisted in the Royal Navy at age 15 years. He was stationed on HMS Chester and fought in the Battle of Jutland in which he was mortally wounded. He was awarded the Victoria Cross.

Parents

Jack's father, Eli was a tram driver who had been a soldier in Egypt and South Africa. His mother was called Lily.

Childhood

Jack Cornwell was born in 1900. When Jack was born there were already two other children in the family. These children were his older sister Alice (1890) and his older brother Ernest. When he was 5 his younger sister Lily was born in 1905. Two other children followed, these were his younger brothers, George and Arthur. It is George’s photograph, which is often mistaken for that of Jack.

Scouting

Jack in 1910 attended a church called St. Mary’s Mission. There was a Scout Troop connected with this church. It met there every week. The Scout Troop was known as the St. Mary’s Mission, Little Ilford Troop. Jack joined it. It was one of the best things he did. He loved it and worked hard to be a proficient scout. His scoutmaster, A.F, Avery said of him that he worked hard and soon he won his tenderfoot badge after which he worked diligently to become Scouter Second Class. He eventually got his Missions Badge. Jack was also awarded a special Boy Scout certificate for freeing a girl from a drain. It was a good time in the Boy Scouts and Jack enjoyed everything he did. His badge work, the weekly meetings were eagerly looked forward to. Woodcraft and camps were enjoyed to the full. Jack would have gone further but the First World War intervened and the troop was disbanded because its leaders enlisted in the war. His mother was proud of his Scouting. She said he was very attached to the Scouts and was very proud of his badges when he brought them home. She said the Scouts had been good for him because his Boy Scout Service helped him settle into work.

Education

Jack attended Farmer Road School from May 1905-July 1910. It is now called the George Mitchell School. After the family moved house to Alverstone Road, Manor Park in 1910, Jack was a pupil at Walton Road School. In 1929 it was renamed The Cornwell School in his honour. Jack left school at about age 13. These wwere primary schools with programs for children from about 6-13 years of age. At the time, few working-class boys went on to secondary school.

Work

Jack was able to obtain employment when he was left school in 1913. His first job was for the Brooke, Bond and Co, It was a tea company and he was a delivery van boy. The following year in 1914 he was employed by Whitbread Brewery as a dray boy.

World War I

When World war one started his father immediately volunteered and was away from home with his regiment in France. Jack tried to join the Royal Navy, but he was turned down because he was too young. He tried again in 1915. He did not have his father’s permission. He took good references from his school and employer to the recruiting office. He was accepted. At the age of 15 he had enlisted in the navy.

Royal Navy Training

Jack’s basic training took place at Keyham Naval Barracks, Plymouth. For the next 6 months he trained with 19 other young recruits known as ‘Boys Second Class.’ They were all in the same ‘mess.’ His willingness and smart appearance impressed the military command. He was given the honour of being a messenger for the Keyham Sea School Commander. Jack also took further training as a Sight Setter, this was a very responsible position on a naval ship and was a post given to experienced sailors. This training should that Jack had an outstanding personality.

Naval Service

On July 27, 1915 Jack passed out as Boy Seaman, First Class, J.T. Cornwell J/42563. It was Easter Monday, 1916 when Jack joined his new ship HMS Chester, a new light cruiser on its maiden voyage. It was part of the 3rd Cruiser Squadron. The took part in the Battle of Jutland--the major naval engagement of the War. This was fought in the North Sea of the coast of Denmark. In the Battle the Chester came under heavy fire. Jack worked with a gun crew. He was a gun sight setter. He wore headphones so that he could follow the Gunnery Officers instructions. The Chester took 17 hits from enemy fire. One high calibre shell hit the Forward gun. This was one of the first guns to be hit. Jack, a 16 year old boy, stood amidst the dead and wounded sailors. He remained at his post even though he was mortally wounded. The Chester got away. First aid parties scoured the ship for the wounded. They found Jack by his gun, waiting for orders. In the battle, HMS Chester had 35 casualties. The ship was too badly damaged to take part in further action. She was ordered back to England. On reaching the Humber Estuary she was met by tugs. Jack and the other wounded sailors were taken to shore by the tugs. Jack was taken to Grimsby hospital. The Admiralty Surgeon was Dr. Stephenson. Jack was one of his patients. The doctor later recalled that Jack was amongst the bravest sailors he had attended. He was impressed by Jack’s courage at this time. It was he who had to tell the 16 year old boy that nothing could be done for him. On the June 2, 1916 jack died from his wounds.

Burial

Jack was buried in Manor Park Cemetery, East Ham, London. It was marked with a simple post with the number 323 on it. Shortly afterwards a bizarre incident to the story occurred. There was a public outcry about the boy being buried in this way. A much grander funeral was planned and his body was dug up to be reburied in the same cemetery after a funeral with full naval honours. The ceremony took place on July 29, 1916. The cortege passed a funeral route lined with Boy Scouts, sailors and the general public. Randolph Vincent, young navel hero who was wounded in the Dardanelles attended. There followed a navel band, a firing party. Baden–Powell was specially pleased by the conduct of the Scouts and Cubs that very hot July day. There were six boy sailors from Jack’s ship who also attended. One was Jack'sfriend. He said of him, "He was my chum, and no fellow could wish for a better; in fact he was a real Scout. We often used to sit down under one of the guns in the evening chatting about Scouting." To this day Jack’s ornate grave can still be seen in Manor Park Cemetery. It was funded by ex-scholars and school children of East Ham who donated their pennies to the memorial fund. Nationally, seven million schoolchildren bought the 1p Boy Cornwell stamp. Many naval charities were able to benefit from the generosity of the children who bought this memorial stamp.

Victoria Cross

Admiral Beatty’s report of the Battle of Jutland had recommended that Jack’s action in the battle should be looked for special recognition as an acknowledgement of the example he set. The press reported this on July 7, 1916. It was announced on September 15 that Jack was to be awarded the Victoria Cross. At 16 years old Jack was the youngest in the Royal Navy and the youngest person to be awarded a Victoria Cross in the First World War. His mother was personally presented with the award by King George V at Buckingham Palace on November 16, 1916. Baden-Powell awarded the then highest bravery award to Jack Cornwell. This was the Bronze Cross.

Corwall Badge

Inspired by Jack’s action a new badge was created. This was the Cornwell Badge. It was a badge that a scout could earn for an act involving physical courage. Baden–Powell presented the first Cornwell Badge to Scouter P.L Shepherd in Middlesborough on November 1, 1916. The award ceremony was made in front of 4,000 adults and children. The audience consisted of Boy Scouts, the Boy’s Brigade and the Church Lads Brigade. It was an evening to remember. Boy Scout Shepherd treasured this award to the end of his days.

Postscript

In 2001 still inspired by a 16 year old boy’s courage Newham Council introduced the Jack Cornwall Award for bravery within this London Borough.

Sources

Durschmied, Erik. Unsung Heroes (Charnwood, Leicester, 2003).

Royal Navy Museum. "John9 Jack Cornwell – A Chronology," Information Sheet No. 85.

Walker, Colin. P.T. Cornwell V.C and the Scout Badge of Courage (London: 2006).

Created: 4:19 PM 10/22/2007
Last updated: 11:38 PM 10/23/2007