Boy Cornwell

For some reason, I possess a signed copy of the book at reference 1, a memoir written by a chap of relatively humble origins who became the society painter of his day, both here in the UK and in the US. 1874-1962. Turning the pages this afternoon, I came across the fact that he painted a famous picture celebrating the glorious death of Boy Cornwell at the Battle of Jutland in 1916. For which he became, posthumously, one of the youngest ever recipients of the Victoria Cross. I dimly remember see cheap prints of the picture in the history books of my childhood.

Conventional coverage is to be found at reference 2, while unconventional coverage is to be found at reference 3. Notwithstanding which last, it seems unlikely that such a thing is ever going to happen again.

For once, the Internet does not offer a good quality reproduction of the painting, with that included left being the best that I could find. But the painting itself is now hung at H.M.S. Raleigh, a naval training establishment in Torpoint, across the water from Plymouth proper - so next time we are in the area, we will attempt a visit, to which end I dare say a preparatory letter might be in order. Failing that, perhaps a visit to Walsall Town Hall where they have two other paintings from the same period.

PS: Wikipedia reports that, despite this and other paintings of the same sort, Salisbury was something of a pacifist. Also that he died disappointed that the Royal Academy never saw fit to admit him. Perhaps both his relatively humble origin and his considerable worldly success were held against him. See reference 4.

Reference 1: Sarum Chase - Frank. O. Salisbury - revised edition 1953.

Reference 2: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Cornwell.

Reference 3: https://peacenews.info/node/8339/turning-teenage-casualty-war-hero%EF%BB%BF.

Reference 4: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_O._Salisbury.