Harry Turner
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
One of the Turner families in Retford started when Alfred Turner married Martha Taylor in 1865, Retford. They lived in Moorgate all their married lives and all their children were born there. Their 7 children were, Alfred b. 1867, Joseph b. 1868, Mary Ann b. 1870, George b. 1875 , Fanny b. 1878 and Harry 1883. Alfred earned his living as a carter until, in 1889 in Retford, he died age 55. By 1891, the three eldest sons were working as general labourers and Mary Ann as a dressmaker and by 1901, only George, Fanny and Harry were living with their mother, Harry working as a labourer in a glue factory and George as an iron moulder. 1905 saw the death of Martha, she was 64 years old. This finally split the family up and Harry went to live with his sister Mary Ann who had married Chas William Turner in 1896 and in 1911 were living at 17 Century Road, Retford and Harry no doubt contributed from his employment as a fitter’s labourer in a Loco Dept. Harry went on to marry Alice M Taylor in 1911 and had a daughter, Dorothy in 1915
Harry enlisted at Retford In June 1916 where he joined the Royal Garrison Artillery 244th Siege Bty. He went to France and was seriously wounded in the chest and abdomen on 5th November 1918 and died from these wounds the day following 6th November 1918 he is buried in the Etaples Military Cemetery, France. His death occurred only five days before the Armistice. Gunner harry Turner Retford Times 20th December 1918 A Retford Gunner As previously announced, Gunner H Turner R.G.A. husband of mrs Turner, Thrumpton Lane, Retford died at the 26th general Hospital, Etaples, France on November 6th of wounds received in action. He was admitted into hospital;l the day before his death very dangerously wounded in the chest and abdomen, but in spite of all skill and good nursing he passed peacefully away. His case was hopeless from the first. He was buried with full military honours in the Etaples Military cemetery. The deceased was 34 years of age and leaves one child. mrs Turner has received a letter from the matron of the hospital expressing heartfelt sympathy with her. he was a carter in the employ of Messrs Milner, Lazenby and Co. coal merchants by whom he was highly respected. Gunner Turner joined up in June 1916, and last July readily sacrificed one and a half pints of blood to help a chum through a crisis
CWG additional information:- Son of Alfred and Martha Turner, of Retford, Notts; husband of A. M. Turner, of 13, Thrumpton Lane, Retford, Notts. Research by Colin Dannatt
