John, I do not know the precise circumstances of your death, but, as a former soldier myself, doing my National Service training in 1950 with the 1st Battalion of the Royal Warwicks at Budbrooke, and in 1951-52 with the 7th TA Battalion at the Drill Hall in Nuneaton, I can still salute you as the brave soldier you undoubtedly were, serving in the 9th Battalion of the Warwicks, who died in the service of his country in the summer of 1915 in Gallipoli. I understand that you took part in the preparations for landing at Suvla Bay on 9th August 1915, which was hoped would enable the Commonwealth forces to overcome the Turkish resistance to the first landing in April, which, after terrible losses on both sides, led to the sacking of the general in charge of the operation. 147 Warwicks were commemorated with you on the Helles Memorial to the Missing, having no known grave. We read that the Turkish artillery defence was ferocious, yet you bravely attacked in the face of it, suffering the consequences. I wrote these notes on Saturday 25th April 2015, one hundred years to the day since the first landing in Gallipoli, after watching the televised commemoration at the Cenotaph in Whitehall, at which Her Majesty the Queen laid the first wreath. You are all also remembered every year at the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance, when the parade is at the attention while the Queen’s Colour and the National Standard are dipped in salute as the Last Post is sounded. I offer my sympathy to your relatives who mourned your sacrifice. Rest in Peace. Harry.

Henry Harrison