Private 25699 Percy Cyril Turk, of the 13th Battalion, the East Surrey Regiment, was born at East Grinstead in 1878, the son of Stephen Turk and Eliza Neve.

The 1881 census records the family living at Crowborough Warren Cottages, Withyham. Stephen, aged 40 and a shepherd, born at Buxted. Eliza, aged 36, born Withyham, as indeed were the children. James, aged 15 and employed as a second shepherd, George, aged 13, Charles, aged 11, Stephen, aged 9, John, aged 7, Ephraim, aged 4, Percy, aged 3 and Reginald, aged 1.

In 1891, the family was living at New Ponds, Ewhurst, another child, Harry, aged 9 and born at Withyham had been added to the family.

In 1911, he was living at 38 Cornwall Road, Bexhill with his wife Louisa, nee Tatnall, whom he had married at Battle in July 1900, with their daughter Elsie Louisa, aged 9, born at Bexhill.

Percy had previously served with the Queens Regiment, service number 15141. He died of wounds on the 13th of December 1917 and is buried at Bucquoy Road Cemetery Ficheux and remembered on the grave of Annie L Turk who died on the 21st of April 1959.

The Bexhill Observer for the 28th of February 1925 reports in great detail upon the unveiling by the town mayor of a memorial tablet in Bexhill’s Congregational Church, dedicated to the ten members of the church who gave their lives in the Great War. Percy being one of the names recorded thereupon and a letter from him whilst serving on the Western Front, was read out during the service.