Drawing of the hero
We are incredibly passionate about telling the stories of the people who served and still serve in the Royal Navy. Our goal is to keep their memory alive and enable the generations of people to learn about them and be inspired by them.
As part of our preparations for the Battle of Jutland centenary commemorations next year, we purchased a very unique large charcoal drawing of boy hero Jack Cornwell, who was only 16-years-old when he died fighting for his country in the battle.
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Image: NMRN Archives
Bearing mortal wounds and awaiting orders, Jack remained at his post on his ship HMS Chester. He died shortly after the battle but his courage was recognised when he was awarded a Victoria Cross medal posthumously for honourable conduct.
His story touched the hearts of the nation, which demanded that he be re-buried with full naval honours.
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Image: Jack Cornwell-Funeral, Courtesy of Newham Heritage Service
The drawing of Jack by Frank O.Salisbury is a 271 x 151.5 cm large preparatory charcoal and pastel sketch which is in a very poor and fragile state and in need of serious conservation.
We want Jack’s story to live on and to capture people’s hearts once more. Your contributions will help us to restore the drawing, which will form the centrepiece at the world’s largest Battle of Jutland exhibition in May 2016 at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard.
If, like us, you feel it is important to remember young heroes like Jack and want to be involved in ensuring his story is not forgotten, and inspire future generations, then please support our campaign.
Funding Goal and Perks
We need to raise £25,000 to cover the costs of the restoration, framing, transport and other campaign-related costs and fees.
To show our appreciation for your support we have prepared a very unique set of perks which include:
£5 - A specially designed thank-you graphic with your name on our Twitter account @NatMuseumRN
£10- A thank you video from the crowdfunding team and published on our Facebook page.
£25 - A ticket to the world's largest Battle of Jutland exhibition at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, opening May 2016
£100 - A limited edition postcard featuring the Jack Cornwell charcoal and pastel sketch and a ticket to the world's largest Battle of Jutland exhibition at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, opening May 2016
£250 - A replica of the Victoria Cross medal with the Naval Ribbon - the same style as Jack Cornwell was awarded, a ticket to the world's largest Battle of Jutland exhibition at the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, opening May 2016 and a limited edition postcard featuring the Jack Cornwell charcoal and pastel sketch.
£500 - Your name on the Donor Wall in the world's largest Battle of Jutland exhibition at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, opening May 2016, a limited edition postcard featuring the Jack Cornwell charcoal and pastel sketch and a ticket to the Battle of Jutland exhibition.
£1,000 - An invitation to the VIP launch of the Battle of Jutland exhibition in May 2016, a tour of the exhibition, 2 tickets to the exhibition and a limited edition postcard featuring the Jack Cornwell pastel and charcoal sketch, for two people.
£1,500 - An invitation to the VIP launch of the Battle of Jutland exhibition in May 2016, a tour of the exhibition, your name on the Donor Wall, 2 tickets to the exhibition and a limited edition postcard featuring the Jack Cornwell pastel and charcoal sketch, for two people.
The Impact
You only need look at our first crowdfunding campaign to get an idea of just how big an impact they can have. We raised £9,236 to help preserve First World War ship HMS M.33, the only remaining Royal Navy survivor of the Gallipoli Campaign. The money raised was crucial in contributing to the opening of this unique attraction, which has already been visited by more than 42,000 people.
Now, we want to make an even bigger impact with our Jack Cornwell campaign.
- Emotional and Inspirational
Jack’s story inspires people. It did in 1916 when the nation came together to demand his re-burial and when they raised money for a fund, established in his name, which in turn sponsored a ward for wounded and disabled sailors at the Star and Garter Home in Richmond.
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Image: Courtesy of Grimsby Fishing Heritage Centre
The Scout Association has introduced a Jack Cornwell Badge which is awarded ‘in respect of pre-eminently high character and devotion to duty, together with great courage and endurance’.
Those who train to be in the Royal Navy at the HMS Raleigh training establishment in Plymouth know all about Jack Cornwell. Raleigh has a New Entry Division named after Cornwell and VIPs are taken to view the painting of him after Passing Out Parades every year – Jack’s story and its importance is explained by the Captain. The picture hangs in the Church of England Church, on view for everyone to see.
Jack’s courage is part of a bigger historical story – the Battle of Jutland, the largest naval battle in the First World War. Our centenary commemorations will help to bring alive the stories of those who fought.
As a preparatory sketch, Salisbury’s drawing was not really meant to last a very long time. It is therefore very unique to have a piece of artwork that is nearly 100-years-old accessible for all to see.
More about Jack
The 16-year-old boy hero John Travers Cornwell VC, known as Jack Cornwell or Boy Cornwell, was one of the youngest people to take part in the Battle of Jutland in 1916. He was also the youngest to receive the Victoria Cross, a medal awarded for ‘most conspicuous bravery, or some daring or pre-eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice’.
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Image: NMRN Archives
Standing alone in an exposed position on HMS Chester, with fatally-wounded crew members around him, Jack remained at his post until he received orders, despite steel splinters penetrating his chest shortly before he died.
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Image: NMRN Archives
Jack was one of the youngest people to join the Royal Navy. His heroism and demeanour have touched many hearts and after an initial common burial, his body was exhumed and he was publicly re-buried with full naval honours.
School children from around the nation each donated a penny of their pocket money to The Jack Cornwell Memorial Fund, which was established to finance a ward for disabled sailors, the Star and Garter Home, at Richmond. An impressive amount of £18,000 was raised, which, based on an historic inflation calculator, is equivalent to £1,653,224.45 today.
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Image: Courtesy of Marine Society and Sea Cadets
More About The Drawing
To keep Jack's memory alive, in 1917, one of the great society artists of his time, Frank O. Salisbury (British, 1874-1962) painted a famous portrait of him called 'John Cornwell, V.C., on H.M.S. Chester’.
We are very privileged to have acquired the very first large preparatory charcoal and pastel sketch of this painting. Unfortunately, the 271 x 151.5 cm drawing is in a very poor and fragile state and cannot currently be shown to the public.
The famous Frank O. Salisbury painting of Jack Cornwell is located at the Naval Training Establishment HMS Raleigh in Plymouth.
Other Ways You Can Help
Spread the word! You can make a big impact even without making a direct financial contribution. Every post or tweet about our campaign will allow more people to learn about it and possibly reach those who would like to support it as well!
You can find all the social media share buttons on the top left of this page.
In early 2016, we will be launching a new exciting app which will allow you to upload photos and information related to your Jutland ancestors to a huge online map, which will be available on our website and in our Battle of Jutland exhibition. The app will also allow you to browse the information on the people of the Battle of Jutland uploaded by other users, making it a big collaborative experience. To register for more information, and have the chance to be one of the first to try it out, please email webmaster@nmrn.org.uk
