Home  |   The Great War  |   Second World War  |   Other Conflicts  |   Useful Links  |   Contact Us

 

2nd Lieutenant Percy John FINCH
1st Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders Date of birth: 30th June 1873 Date of death: 29th June 1897 Died aged 23 Buried at Candia British Cemetery
Percy John Finch was born at Lee Farm, Hurst Grove in Berkshire on the 30th of June 1873 the son of Peter Finch BA JP, a gentleman, and Eliza Finch of Hurst Grove. He was educated at Lancing College from May 1888 to July 1891 where he was in School House. He was a member of the Cricket XI in 1890 and 1891. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 3rd Battalion Norfolk Regiment (Militia) on the 6th of March 1893 and was promoted to Lieutenant on the 20th of February 1895. He transferred to the regular army in the 1st Battalion Seaforth Highlanders on the 6th of June 1896 with the rank of 2nd Lieutenant. In 1896 the Greek population of Crete rose up in rebellion against their Ottoman rulers, massacred Muslims and touched off a civil war. In 1897 the Greeks landed troops on the island which led to the Greco-Ottoman War. The major international powers differed in their solutions for the conflict, with Germany and Russia wanting to support Turkish troops there but the British calling for Cretan autonomy. They agreed to impose a blockade of the island and then landed troops on Crete, which included the 1st Battalion Seaforth Highlanders, to restore control. In March 1897 the island was divided into four areas for the occupation with the British being allocated the Heraklion zone. Percy Finch died of dysentery at Candia during the occupation. He is commemorated on the 1st Battalion Seaforth Highlanders memorial at St Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh.

School House