War veterans will be joining cadets and members of the public in a parade to honour a teenage war hero.

The annual parade in memory of John “Jack” Cornwell, organised by the East Ham branch of the Royal British Legion, will take place on Sunday, June 1. It has been held almost every year since 1948.

It will begin at the Jack Cornwell VC Centre in Vicarage Lane and make its way to St Bartholomew’s Church in Barking Road for a service at 11am.

Jack was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross at the age of 16 for gallantry in the face of the enemy.

He died on June 2, 1916, after he was injured at the gun of HMS Chester during the Battle of Jutland.

Although the entire gun crew was dead or wounded, Jack remained standing at his post for more than 15 minutes.