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Showing posts with the label Jack Cornwell

Armistice Centenary

The eleventh day of the eleventh month of 1918 has been commemorated this week on its hundredth anniversary. This week's post takes a look at some of the most notable burials in our collection from the First World War. Silvertown Explosion 1917 (West Ham Cemetery, London E7) The  Millennium Mills  in the aftermath of the  Silvertown explosion  - Avery, John, 1917-01-25 ( By Source, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=28065575 ) One of the worst non-military disasters of the First World War took place near the cemetery in Silvertown, East London.  On 19 January 1917, the largest explosion ever to occur in the UK ripped through the former Brunner Mond factory in Silvertown. It had been turned over to munitions production near the beginning of the war, and now manufactured highly unstable TNT. The blast was heard as far away as Southampton and Norwich. A devastating firestorm spread beyond the factory into neighbour...

London Grave of Jack Cornwell VC receives Protected Status

This week everyone at Deceased Online has been delighted to learn that First World War boy hero, Jack Cornwell's grave in London's Manor Park Cemetery has been awarded Grade II listed status. John Travers Cornwell, Boy 1st class (1900–1916)  by  Ambrose McEvoy 2016 marks the centenary of the Battle of Jutland , the devastating Great War naval conflict of 31st May-1st June 1916, that led to loss of  6,094 British and 2,551 German personnel. One of those lost souls was John "Jack" Travers Cornwell (1900-1916) , who had enlisted as a young teenager in 1915. Jack Cornwell was just 16 years old when he was fatally wounded during the Battle of Jutland aboard the HMS Chester . He died two days later at hospital in Grimsby, Lincolnshire.  On the day of the 31st May, HMS Chester came under heavy fire from four German ships. Despite being hit by shrapnel, Cornwell remained at his post awaiting orders. As a result of his bravery, Cornwell became celebrated acro...

Manor Park in the Victorian and Edwardian Eras

This week's post looks at the history of Manor Park Cemetery from its opening in 1874 through to the end of the First World War in 1918. We are delighted that almost all the remaining records for East London’s Manor Park Cemetery are now online; the last ones for the period 1875-1898 should be available next week. The entrance to Manor Park Cemetery and Crematorium Manor Park Cemetery opened in 1874. Owned by the Manor Park Cemetery Company, which continues to manage the cemetery and crematorium today, Manor Park was then one of the largest graveyards in London. The Company bought the land in 1872 from neighbouring Hamfrith Farm. The cemetery remains a haven for wildlife, with two woodlands, lawns and gardens of remembrance. The Cemetery Chapel The first person to be buried was a Mr. Wiliam Nesbitt. His burial took place on 25th March 1875, and his headstone can still be found on the right hand side of the cemetery's Remembrance Road. Two years later, the ...