Chester Crew Photos
Backhouse, Ernest - Leading Seaman
Photo source: Jackie Smith
Cornwell, John Travers - Boy 1st Class
The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the grant of the Victoria Cross to Boy, First Class, John Travers Cornwell, O.N.J.42563 (died 2 June 1916), for the conspicuous act of bravery specified below. Mortally wounded early in the action, Boy, First Class, Jack Travers Cornwell remained standing alone at a most exposed post, quietly awaiting orders, until the end of the action, with the gun's crew dead and wounded all round him. His age was under sixteen and a half years.
Kneller, Albert William Clifford - Boy 1st Class
The earliest photo the family has (c 1928), he joined the navy with his school mate at 15. Cornwall, who was mortally wounded on the gun next to my grandfathers position, was also wounded. The family rumor is that my grandfather actually sat for Salisbury's portrait due to lack of photo, naval records attribute that honour to Cornwall's brother, we will never know. What is a fact is that there are circulating pictures of Cornwall head and shoulders with 3 different names on the cap tally, he only ever served on the Chester.
Photo source: C. Kneller
Short, Patrick - Stoker 2nd Class
Photo source: Gerard White
