Roll of Honour
Private Cyril James Turney
Service Number: 10384
Regiment: Prince Albert's Own Hussars (11th)
Conflict: World War One
Date of Death: 13th May 1915
Age at Death: 18
Burial/Memorial Location: Menin Gate Memorial, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium
Address: 1 Priory Terrace, Bicester
Son of Lewis & Susan Turney, of 1 Priory Terrace, Bicester.
"News was received on Saturday last of the death of Pte. Cyril James Turney, the only son of Mr Lewis Turney, late Sergeant of the Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort’s Own), now postman and recruiting sergeant for Bicester and district.
Capt. A.B. Lawson writes to Sergt. Turney: “I very much regret to have to tell you that your son, Pte. Turney, 11th Hussars, was killed in action on Thursday, May 13th, near Ypres. He was carrying ammunition up to the front line, and was hit on the way up; he was killed almost at once, and suffered no pain. I hope you will accept my sincerest sympathy for you in the loss you have sustained, and it may be some consolation for you to know that he died for his country. I can assure you that I shall miss him very much from my squadron. He was buried close to where he fell. If possible I will send you any papers which may have been found on him.”
The fallen soldier joined the 11th Hussars (Prince Albert’s Own) in October, 1913. Previous to his enlistment he was employed at Swift’s House under Sir Algernon Peyton, Bart., as hall boy, for a period of 21 months. Being well recommended, as of good character, he was accepted as an under-age recruit on the conditions laid down in the amended recruiting regulations. Pte. Turney was posted to the Irish Cavalry Depot, Richmond Barracks, Dublin, and whilst there he obtained two Army school certificates of education – a third class on October 30, 1913, and a second class on December 3rd, 1913. He had intended trying for a first-class certificate, when he was dismissed drill as a trained soldier. He then joined his regiment at Aldershot in February, 1914. The regiment left with the Expeditionary Force about the middle of August, and Pte. Turney went with a draft in September, having volunteered as the youngest soldier to join them in France.
The utmost sympathy is felt with his relatives in their loss." Bicester Herald 28/05/1915