A memorial has been unveiled to a Leyton teenager who became the youngest person to be awarded a Victoria Cross during World War One.

John “Jack” Cornwell was just 16 when he died during the Battle of Jutland 100 years ago.

Today (Thursday, May 26) a special paving stone was unveiled in Coronation Gardens, Leyton as a permanent memorial to Jack’s heroics.

His relatives, Admiral Sir Philip Jones, First Sea Lord of the Royal Navy and representatives from Waltham Forest council were for a ceremony at the park.

Roger Cornwell, whose grandfather was Jack’s cousin, said: “It's difficult to imagine these days that we would put a young man of 16 into such a dangerous situation, but that's what happened. 

"He had his duty to perform and he did it even at the cost of his own life. That makes me very proud."

The band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines, Collingwood, was also on hand to provide music for the event.

Members of the band, and more than 20 other naval officers provided a guard of honour as the memorial stone was unveiled.

On May 31, 1916, HMS Chester was scouting ahead of the 3rd Battlecruiser Squadron at the Battle of Jutland, when it came under fire from four Kaiserliche Marine cruisers.

Jack and several other men manned the ship’s gun to fend off the attack, but all apart from the teenager were either quickly killed or mortally injured.
Although severely wounded, he was able to remain at his post for more than 15 minutes.

Once the danger had passed, ship medics arrived on deck to find Jack the sole survivor at his gun, badly wounded by shards of steel that had punctured his chest.

However, the youngster was still looking through the gun sights and waiting for orders. 

He was transferred to Grimsby General Hospital, but died on the morning of June 2, 1916. 

Admiral Jones said: “The Battle of Jutland was the most significant naval action of the First World War. 

"Without command of the seas, Britain’s maritime trade, the lifeblood of the war effort, would have been in danger, and Britain herself open to the risk of starvation or even invasion. 

"The stakes couldn’t have been higher and the subsequent loss of life was truly horrific.

“Jack Cornwell is the epitome of the courage and commitment of all those who fought at Jutland.

"Today, his portrait hangs in the chapel of our new entry training establishment and every sailor who joins the Royal Navy learns his story. 

"We will never forget the sacrifice of Jack Cornwell and so many others like him.”

Hundreds of super-sized poppies have been temporarily be installed in Coronation Gardens to mark the occasion.

The installation forms part of a two-year project commissioned by the council and led by local social enterprise Significant Seams.