On the line – June 2009

Karran: Hello, I’m Karran Danks and I’m a Gallery Assistant at the National Maritime Museum. At the Museum Gallery Assistants often give talks for visitors about the curious stories, facts and histories behind some of the objects in our collections. One of my favourite talks is about a young boy, Jack Cornwell. He was one of the youngest-ever recipients of the Victoria Cross, one of our top military honours. I was curious about what such a young boy could have done to attain such a high distinction and how he achieved it.

The tale begins with Jack’s early life in the east end of London, his early employment and his enjoyment of being a member of the Boy Scouts and his desire for adventure, which eventually led to him joining the Navy whilst under age and against his parents' wishes. He adapted to Navy life very well, perhaps because of his background in the Scouts, in which he had risen high in the ranks there. He became trained as a sights setter or a gun layer, a role normally only given to experienced seamen, and was then sent to serve on HMS Chester.

On the 31 May 1916 the Chester became involved in the Battle of Jutland - the great sea battle of the First World War. Over 6000 men were killed and injured during this battle and after the action Jack was found to be severely wounded and the sole survivor at his post. The Chester returned to Grimsby, and Jack was transferred to hospital there where he subsequently died on the 2 June aged 16½, asking the nurses to give his love to his mother. He was buried in a public or paupers' grave in Grimsby, but his family arranged to have his remains moved to Manor Park in London. There he was buried in another public grave with at least 20 other bodies marked only with a simple wooden cross.

In the correspondence between the Captain of the Chester and Jack’s mother, the Captain wrote to tell her of her son’s bravery for standing by his post when he could have left at any time. From there the story becomes rather convoluted. Due to the ongoing war and the lowering of morale the decision was made to create a hero out of Jack. Newspapers told of his story, complete with a few additions. His younger brothers were dressed up and they posed as him for official photographs. Eventually he was recommended to receive the VC, which his mother received on his behalf. He was dug up for the second time and buried again with full military honours. A public fund was set up to help raise money to support his family, which raised the vast sum of £12,000.

To hear what happened to the fund, about the death of his father and brother and the sad fate of his mother, and to find out about the Gallery Favourites talks that are on this month in the museum, please visit our website nmm.ac.uk/favourites.

Thank you and goodbye.