Leading Stoker 1st Class John Corps was born in Portsea in April 1856 and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class aboard the Training Ship H.M.S. St. Vincent in April 1871. First going to sea in Endymion between 1873-74, he served in a number of other ships prior to joining H.M.Y. Victoria and Albert as a Stoker in October 1884, which appointment lasted until March 1889. Corps was pensioned as a Leading Stoker 1st Class in May 1894.