Sep 20, 1889

Born in Hastings County, Ontario to Thomas and Margaret Turriff

Dec 27, 1915

Attested into the 155^th Battalion CEF in Bancroft, Ontario

 Ø  Number 636287

Ø  Next of kin given as Thomas Turriff, father, Turriff, Ontario

Ø  Previous occupation given as Labourer

o   Later noted as Farmer

Ø  No previous military experience given

Ø  Religion given as Presbyterian

 
The battalion trained in the Kingston, Ontario area

Jun 8, 1916

Appointed to the rank of Provisional Sergeant

Jun 22, 1916

Admitted to the Barriefield Military Hospital with a diagnosis that reads Measles

Jun 28, 1916

Discharged to duty from hospital

Oct 17, 1916

Embarked the SS Northland in Halifax, Nova Scotia

While onboard the ship, he was appointed to the rank of Acting Sergeant

Oct 28, 1916

Disembarked in Liverpool, England and the battalion proceeded to Bramshott

Dec 8, 1916

Transferred to the 154^th Battalion in Bramshott

Jan 31, 1917

Transferred to the newly formed 6^th Reserve Battalion in East Sandling.  Shortly after the formation of the battalion it was moved to Seaford to train reinforcements for the front

Apr 20, 1917

Reverted to the rank of Private at his own request in order to be transferred to a battalion at the front

Apr 21, 1917

Transferred to the 21^st Battalion

Apr 22, 1917

Arrived at the CBD (Canadian Base Depot) in the Rouelles Camp, Havre, France as part of a draft of 3,000 reinforcements from England and TOS (Taken On Strength) the 21^st Battalion

May 11, 1917

After leaving the base depot, Private Turriff joined the 2^nd Canadian Entrenching Battalion in Hersin, France as part of a draft of 34 reinforcements destined to join the 21^st Battalion

May 21, 1917

Appointed to the rank of Acting Sergeant with pay

Aug 21, 1917

After leaving the entrenching battalion he joined the 21^st Battalion in billets in Villers au Bois, France and reverted to the rank of Private as the battalion had a full compliment of Sergeants, and was assigned to “C” Company

Nov 8, 1917

Promoted to the rank of Corporal to replace Cpl Girard, 59369, who had been invalided to England

Nov 16, 1917

Proceeded on the Lewis Machine Gun course

Nov 30, 1917

Rejoined the battalion from course and assigned to the “C” Company Machine Gun Section

Dec 1, 1917

Appointed to the rank of Lance Sergeant to replace L/S Armstrong, 59022, who had been promoted

Jul 7, 1918

Promoted to the rank of Sergeant to replace Sgt Forbes, 59330, who had been invalided to England

Aug 11, 1918

Granted 14 days leave

Aug 27, 1918

Rejoined the battalion from leave

Oct 11, 1918

While the 21^st Battalion was advancing towards Avesnes le Sec, France just south of the town of Iwuy, Sergeant John Turriff was killed in action.  He was buried a short time later in the nearby Niagara Cemetery, Iwuy, France.

Following the war, the British War Medal, Victory Medal and Memorial Cross were sent to his mother, Mrs. Margaret Turriff, at the Turriff, Ontario Post Office

The Plaque (Dead Man’s Penny) and Scroll were sent to his father, Mr. Thomas Turriff, at the same address

Jack Turriff is honoured on the Bancroft, Ontario War Memorial