Famous figures - Jack Cornwell
Description
The story of John Travers, 鈥楯ack鈥 Cornwell, a 16-year-old sailor who won the Victoria Cross for outstanding bravery during the Battle of Jutland in 1916. The story tells of how the young boy, who came from London, died shortly after being rescued from sea. He was manning his gun on board the HMS Chester during a ferocious sea battle in the North Sea in 1916. After his death, he was awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest and most special award for bravery in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. He was one of the youngest-ever soldiers to receive this award.
Classroom Ideas
Children could write and illustrate their own comic strip of Jack鈥檚 story. In role play, they could re-enact the story in smaller group presentations to the rest of the class. They could research other jobs teenagers did in the war and explain which one they would choose to do and why, after weighing the pros and cons of each.
World War 1
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