Name
John Turk
14/10/1896
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
30/03/1917
20
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
20842
King's Shropshire Light Infantry
3rd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Searched but not found
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
CHESHUNT BURIAL GROUND
17. EY.
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
He is commemorated on the family grave.
UK & Other Memorials
Cheshunt Town Memorial, Christ Church (formerly Holy Trinity Church) Memorial Waltham Cross
Pre War
John Turk was born in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, in October 1896, son of Walter Turk, a Carman and Ann Edith (Edith) Turk (nee Warren). One of seven children.
1901 Census records John aged 4, living with his parents, brother Frank (6) and sisters May (1) and Rosa (2 months) at, 139 High Street, Cheshunt, Herts. His eldest brother Walter Turk (7), was living with his grandparents, Thomas and Ann Warren, in High Road, Turnford, Herts.
1911 Census, John now aged 14, had left school and was working as a Telegraph Messenger, living with his parents, two brothers and three sisters at, 4 Burleigh Road, Cheshunt, Herts. His widower grandfather Thomas Warren was living with the family.
Wartime Service
John enlisted at Tottenham, Middx, posted to the Suffolk Regiment with the service number 40050, later transferred to the 3rd Battalion, “The Kings” (Shropshire Light Infantry) with the service 20842, a training unit based in the UK.
We have assumed John did not serve overseas as no Medal Index Card (MID) was found for him. John died on 30th March 1917, aged 20, of Pneumonia at Newcastle Hospital. He is buried in Cheshunt Burial Ground, Bury Green Road, Cheshunt, Herts. Grave Ref: 17. EV.
Additional Information
His mother Edith received a Dependents Pension of 7/6 a week from 9th October 1917, reduced to 5/- a week from 5th March 1918.
His effects of £4-3s-7d, pay owing went to his father Walter.
John's grave (not CWGC) may also contain, or at least commemorates his parents' and his siblings, Horace and Edith May (Turk).
His eldest brother Walter Turk enlisted in the 2nd Battalion, “The Kings” Shropshire Light Infantry, in February 1909, issued with the service number 9112. Serving in India until the outbreak of war when he and his Battalion returned to the Uk. They were mobilized for war service and landed at Le Havre, France on 21st December 1914. Walter was discharged on 12th July 1915, under “Para 392 (xvi)” no longer physically fit for war service, issued with the Silver War Badge No. 80709, on 13th November 1916.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Jonty Wild
