Private Francis, John ‘Topsy’ Turner was born in 1936 in Lambeth, South London. Better known as John or Topsy.

He joined the Para’s in 1954. Topsy was in 3 Para from 1954-56 serving in Cyprus and Suez.  At Suez, he was part of the assault on El Gamil.  He was in 9 Pln, C Company and handled a 3.5” rocket launcher.

Topsy was an active member of his local branch of the Para Association and regularly attended El Gamil reunions until he died in 2020.