Corporal 1475/200147, 4th Battalion, Suffolk regiment, who died on 23rd April 1917, aged 21.

John has no known grave and is remembered on the Arras Memorial, and the Woodbridge Memorial.

He was born in Woodbridge in 1896, and before the war he worked as a Nurseryman.

He died during the Battle of the Scarpe whilst fighting near Arras.

Personal details

John’s parents were nurseryman Robert Turner and wife Alice, of River View Terrace, Woodbridge. Older brothers, Robert [B. Cherryhinton 1884), Frederick (B. Cherryhinton, 1990).

Apart from the mentions in Booths Almanac in 1915 and 1916 we can find no other connections to Hasketon. Presumably he moved the village after 1911.

War service.

John’s Army Service Record is unavailable, probably being one of those damaged during WW2. Meda Roll Index Cards indicate he arrived in France 8th Nov. 1914. The Regiment Nominal Roll (Bury Records Office) suggests some health problems: 17/12/14 conjunctivitus, Corneal Ulcer. trans to england, 27/12/14. Returned 23/1/16 joined D coy. 2/4/16. Then tonsillitius 17/2/16, hosp in St Omer. Rejoined Btn. 10/3/1916. Appted L.Corp 8/9/1916.

Date of death, 23rd April 1917, the same day as John George Race, indicates he died during the 2nd Battle of the Scarpe, probably fighting around the Sensee River by Guemappe near Arras. After initial success the Suffolks faced determined German counterattacks, and were compelled to fall back. 4th Battalion casualties for the day were 315.