His Life
This is a picture of Leyton Town Hall in Essex; where John Travers 'Jack' Cornwell was born. He was the third child of Eli and Lily Cornwell. Later; the family moved to East Ham. He left school there at age 14 (when the war broke out) to support his family; since his father was fighting in France under Lord Kitchener (a famous army general). His older brother Arthur was also involved in the war.
In October 1915; Cornwell left his job as a delivery boy behind, and signed up to the Royal Navy. He received training in Plymouth as a Sight Setter/Gun Layer and eventually became a Boy Seaman First Class. On Easter Monday 1916; he went to Scotland to be assigned to the HMS Chester.
In October 1915; Cornwell left his job as a delivery boy behind, and signed up to the Royal Navy. He received training in Plymouth as a Sight Setter/Gun Layer and eventually became a Boy Seaman First Class. On Easter Monday 1916; he went to Scotland to be assigned to the HMS Chester.
Role in the War and Death
On 31 May 1916, the HMS Chester was scouting ahead of the 3rd Battlecruiser Squadron at the Battle of Jutland (one of the major battles in WWI) when the ship turned to investigate gunfire in the distance. At 5:30pm, the Chester was attacked by four Kaiserliche Marine cruisers, which had suddenly emerged out of the haze. All of the gun's crew were killed except Cornwell who, although severely wounded, managed to stand back up, and despite the entire gun crew around him dead or wounded, he remained standing at his post for more than 15 minutes. The HMS Chester had received a total of 18 hits, but the interior of the ship suffered little serious damage and the ship was never in danger. The situation on deck, however, was worrying. Many of the gun crews had lost lower limbs due to splinters passing under the gun shields. British ships report passing the Chester to cheers from limbless wounded gun crew laid out on her deck and smoking cigarettes, only to hear that the same crewmen had died a few hours later from blood loss and shock.
After the action, ship medics arrived on deck to find Cornwell the sole survivor, with shards of steel penetrating his chest; still waiting for orders. They quickly sailed the HMS Chester to Ipswich, where Cornwell was transferred to Grimsby General Hospital. He died on the morning of 2 June 1916.
After the action, ship medics arrived on deck to find Cornwell the sole survivor, with shards of steel penetrating his chest; still waiting for orders. They quickly sailed the HMS Chester to Ipswich, where Cornwell was transferred to Grimsby General Hospital. He died on the morning of 2 June 1916.
Awards
Jack Cornwell received the Victoria Cross three months after his death. He is the third-youngest person to ever receive it.
Family
His father Eli, who died in October 1916 from bronchitis; was buried in the same grave as Jack. Their epitaph reads: "It is not wealth or ancestry but honourable conduct and a noble disposition that maketh men great."
His brother Arthur was killed in action in France in 1918.
His mother died in 1919. After their mother died; Jack's two younger siblings moved to Canada in the 1920s.
His brother Arthur was killed in action in France in 1918.
His mother died in 1919. After their mother died; Jack's two younger siblings moved to Canada in the 1920s.
What we learn from him
Jack Cornwell's tragic story tells us that many teenagers joined the cause to fight against Germany during WW1. It also says how many older men were forced into fighting.