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COMMEMORATION

There were only two contemporary images, both photographs, of Jack.  Both images show him in his Navy uniform one wearing the hat of HMS Vivid and the other of HMS Lancashire.  With such a public demand for his story his image was recreated several times.  There appears to have been a strong family resemblance between Jack and his brothers and they stood in for Jack to satisfy the demand for new images.  This included modelling for the artist Frank O. Salisbury who created an iconic image of Jack in the midst of battle standing at his post.  Robert Baden-Powell, founder of the Scouts and a talented artist also created a portrait depicting this scene.  He sent his rough sketches to the Captain of HMS Chester to check that the planned picture would be an accurate depiction.

Baden-Powell’s commemorative portrait of Jack Cornwell.


Several Memorial Funds were created in Jack’s memory, in August 1916 Baden-Powell announced the creation of a scouting Cornwell Memorial Fund to support Scouts with scholarships and apprenticeships.  Funds were also raised to create a “Jack Cornwell Ward” at the Star and Garter Home, Richmond, for injured servicemen.  Jack’s image appeared on postcards, cigarette cards and a poster was produced to be displayed in classrooms. 


Fictional images of Jack such as these showing him in his Scout Uniform and wearing his posthumously award Victoria Cross were created to satisfy the public’s demand for images of their hero.


In Scouting Jack is best remembered as the inspiration for the Cornwell Badge.

On to: Inspiration 



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