THARLE, John William

John was born 1897 in Newport to John William & Emily Louisa (nee DOWNER) THARLE who were living at Blake’s Hill in Brighstone around the time of John’s death. In 1901 the family were living in Cross Lane in Newport before moving to Brighstone.

John was a prisoner of war being held in Turkey when he died, aged 19, on the 10th of October 1916 from dysentery. He was originally buried in the Afion Kara Hissar Cemetery in Turkey, but his body was later exhumed & reburied on the 24th of June 1927 in the North Gate Cemetery in Iraq alongside 4,486 of his First & Second World War comrades. Originally beneath a Commission Headstone, however these were removed in the 1990’s & due to the political situation not as yet replaced. Until that time these soldiers are commemorated in a Role of Honour held at CWGC HQ in Maidenhead.

John is also remembered on the County & Brighstone War Memorials.