John Travers Cornwell VC

[seaJane]

Born on this day, 1900.

[CGM]

[CGM]

[seaJane]

Thank you 

[Guest]

Claimed by 3 different boroughs down my way as "theirs"- Redbridge (worked for Ilford Limited), Newham- where family were, Waltham Forest-where family were before Newham.

 

1)It is interesting to note that Claude Schoules the last active RN veteran who died in Oz had actually joined the Royal Navy as a Boy before Jack Cornwell- Makes history seem that bit closer.

2) Did he actually do anything courageous or merely stay at his post because he was mortally wounded and traumatised?  The hand of David Beatty in deflecting criticism away from his role in Jutland may be a factor in his VC award.

 

3)  And I thoroughly recommend  Charles Causley's poem "The Ballad of Jack Cornwell"- lovely stuff with lots of allusions for GWF members to spot (or not!)

 

 

[seaJane]

1) Wow. And HMAS CHOULES has been helping with fire evacuation lately.

2) I do not have the knowledge to debate that question.

3) agreed! Google Books preview includes the poem on p. 163, click here.

(If it doesn't show up, click twice on Next in the yellow bar.)

[Alan24]

My son who is now a teenager has always been inspired by the story of Jack Cornwall.

At primary school he would bring the same library book home week after week that had his story in it.

 

Eventually we had to buy a copy for him.

 

We visited the IWM where we made sure we viewed the VC with original Navy blue ribbon.

 

When we went to IWM in October we noticed that in the WW1 gallery was a gun from HMS Chester which I think was his ship. 

 

It has always been our intention to visit his grave at Mill Hill.

 

Thanks for posting the photos, I've just showed my son and maybe we'll go this year.

 

Regards 

Alan 

[clive_hughes]

Alan,

Not just a gun, but the one he was manning at the time of the battle (minus the gunshield).  https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/30025434

 

Not on show, but the Library there also have his personal copy of the signalling handbook, stamped with his name across the page edges.  It was apparently bought by a shipmate when (in accordance with naval tradition) his personal effects were auctioned off after his death. 

 

Chester Cathedral have a small memorial to the ship, including a roll of those killed at Jutland http://www.carlscam.com/warmem/jutland.htm and the ship's battle ensign flown during the action has also been deposited there since 1916.  

 

Clive 

[Alan24]

29 minutes ago, clive_hughes said:

Alan,

Not just a gun, but the one he was manning at the time of the battle (minus the gunshield).  https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/30025434

Thanks Clive, for the reminder. I probably knew that somewhere in the back of my mind!

 

Thanks also for the other links. Didn't know about the Chester memorial.

 

Regards 

Alan 

[CGM]

Alan,

My photo was taken in Manor Park Cemetery. There are more inscriptions on the sides too.

 

http://www.mpark.co.uk/default.aspx?ID=15

There is a good map of the grounds on this website, with the location marked.

 

 

 

[Alan24]

8 hours ago, CGM said:

Alan,

My photo was taken in Manor Park Cemetery. There are more inscriptions on the sides too.

 

http://www.mpark.co.uk/default.aspx?ID=15

There is a good map of the grounds on this website, with the location marked.

 

 

 

Thanks for that CGM.

Not sure where Mill Hill came from.

IIRC It is someway East of central London.

 

Regards

Alan 

[Kitchener's Bugle]

Nice tribute to him here

 

 

[Guest]

21 hours ago, Alan24 said:

IRC It is someway East of central London.

  Yes, out in  dangerous territory.   But Manor Park is easy enough-   Liverpool Street, overground to Forest Gate (not Manor Park-just to confuse you) , station is next to the cemetery. The memorial to JC is at the front entrance to the cemetery, so if you come in the main gates it is hard to miss.

 

     A small curiosity about Cornwall is that he probably only joined the navy because the war made him unemployed. He was a delivery boy for Ilford Ltd in Ilford but a number of women workers and boys were turned out when war began as Ilford believed that the demand for photographs would diminish and that they would be hampered by the inability to get specialist chemicals from Germany.

[Jim Clay]

  Yes, out in  dangerous territory.   But Manor Park is easy enough-   Liverpool Street, overground to Forest Gate (not Manor Park-just to confuse you) , station is next to the cemetery. The memorial to JC is at the front entrance to the cemetery, so if you come in the main gates it is hard to miss.

 

     A small curiosity about Cornwall is that he probably only joined the navy because the war made him unemployed. He was a delivery boy for Ilford Ltd in Ilford but a number of women workers and boys were turned out when war began as Ilford believed that the demand for photographs would diminish and that they would be hampered by the inability to get specialist chemicals from Germany.

Erm, unless it's moved in recent years, Manor Park Cemetery is merely a hop and a skip from Manor Park Station - but a hefty hike from Forest Gate.  Or am I Barking?

[Guest]

35 minutes ago, Jim Clay said:

Erm, unless it's moved in recent years, Manor Park Cemetery is merely a hop and a skip from Manor Park Station - but a hefty hike from Forest Gate.  Or am I Barking?

 

     Beg pardon-Put Forest Gate station in error. There are 2 cemeteries in that stretch of rail- the larger is the City of London Cemetery, which can be seen on the left between Manor Park and Ilford,if travelling out from the centre. Yes, it's main entrance is a short walk from Manor Park Station.

   JC is at Manor Park Cemetery, which is not the same thing. It is "turn left" out of Manor Park Station. I put Forest Gate as JC's grave is nearest the main entrance there. Manor Park Station is the easiest way into the cemetery, I grant you, but you have to walk all the way through the cemetery to get to JC.  Coming the other way, you can'miss it.

 

      I does get very confusing round my way when families say a funeral service is going to be at "Manor Park"-always have to double-check. Apparently, the most popular music request at  Manor Park Cemetery is "Bubbles", the West Ham song

[Jim Clay]

 

     Beg pardon-Put Forest Gate station in error. There are 2 cemeteries in that stretch of rail- the larger is the City of London Cemetery, which can be seen on the left between Manor Park and Ilford,if travelling out from the centre. Yes, it's main entrance is a short walk from Manor Park Station.

   JC is at Manor Park Cemetery, which is not the same thing. It is "turn left" out of Manor Park Station. I put Forest Gate as JC's grave is nearest the main entrance there. Manor Park Station is the easiest way into the cemetery, I grant you, but you have to walk all the way through the cemetery to get to JC.  Coming the other way, you can'miss it.

 

      I does get very confusing round my way when families say a funeral service is going to be at "Manor Park"-always have to double-check. Apparently, the most popular music request at  Manor Park Cemetery is "Bubbles", the West Ham song

Just looked at me trusty A to Z - yes, I can see that the far West end of the cemetery is at least as easily accessed from Forest Gate as Manor Park.  From MP, you're walking halfway back to FG to get there!

 

The City of London, just a short walk from Manor Park, I've sadly attended a few times, last time just 2 years ago.

[observer]

Two websites  reports the picture used of him is actually his brother at https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/jack-cornwell-and-the-hms-chester-gun

but his portrait appears on a VC Postcard https://blog.maryevans.com/2016/05/jack-cornwell-vc-the-boy-hero-of-jutland-remembered-a-century-on.html

(reference only)