James Knowles Turpin

Turpin was killed at Boundary Road behind the Brigade HQ at Hill Top Farm near St Jaan just west of the frontline. He enlisted on the outbreak of war and served with "A" Bty 241st (South Midland) Bde. He was commissioned in August 1914 as a second lieutenant and promoted lieutenant in 1916. His last leave to Nottingham was 24th – 31st January 1916. The 241st Brigade lost 52 men (during Passchendaele?) killed in action or died of wounds. I believe he was killed in action at Boundary Road behind the Brigade HQ at Hill Top Farm near St Jaan, just west of the frontline. Eight men of his battery were killed after Turpin and were buried close to his grave in Vlamertinghe New Military Cemetery, plot 6, row D, grave 7. The Brigade, equipped with 15 pounder field guns, were actually on exercise in October 1914 when they were recalled to mobilise for war. On 30th. March 1915 the Brigade embarked for France via Southampton and Le Havre where they formed part of the 48th South Midland Division. In March 1916 a fourth field gun battery was formed. Two months later, in May, they changed their name to 241 Brigade R.F.A. and the new battery was exchanged with the warwickshire Brigade for a howitzer battery. The brigade now consisted of A/241, B/241 and C/241 Batteries (formerly the Worcester, Kidderminster and Redditch batteries respectively), together with the Warwickshire heavy howitzer battery which joined them as D/241 battery. On 18th October 1916, the field gun batteries were "up-gunned" so that each now consisted of six 18 pounders and in this form took part in the attack on Beaumont Hamel on 13th November, the last attack in the Battle of the Somme. Much of their time on the Somme was spent in the area of the Ancre Marshes and Aveluy Wood. They also served with distinction at 3rd. Ypres in August 1917 (where my grandfather received a wound serious enough to have him invalided out of the army) before being sent to Italy in November 1917. At the end of the war, their guns and equipment were sold in Italy and the Brigade returned home to be reduced to cadre strength.Research Simon Williams

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