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