George Turner

In the Retford Times 25 May 1917 “ We represent a photo of Pte George Turner, East Yorkshire Regiment, the third son of Mr & Mrs Reuben Turner, 30 Humber Street, Retford who has made the great sacrifice. At the outbreak of war he was at Filey camp with the Retford Territorials and was for nearly four months with the battalion at Hardenden when he was medically rejected. He was called up to the colours in his group on September 16th 1916 and sent to France on February 9th of this year. The commanding officer of the regiment, in a letter to the parents writes:-“ It is with deep regret and sorrow that I inform you of your son’s death on May 6th. He was a true friend of everyone in his platoon, and I am sure his loss has been greatly felt. Kindly accept our deepest sympathy. Trusting you will bear the loss with courage, as he died for a noble cause.” It appears that the deceased, who was a joiner by trade and was 19 years of age, was engaged in hut building at Catterick Bridge, and while there was drafted into the East Yorks. He served his apprenticeship with Messrs T. Hopkinson and Son, by whom the father is employed. He was a ringer of West Retford Church tower, and a member of the North Notts Change Ringers Association. He was an adept on handbells. Mr & Mrs Turner’s eldest son, Albert, has been in America six years and they also have a daughter in that country. Lance Corporal Chas Turner, Sherwood Foresters, 18, Humber Street, Retford, has been in France 16 months. He is married and has two children, and formerly worked at Manton Pit. Pte Fred Turner, the youngest son, is in training with the Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry in Essex. He was before the war in farm service at Moorhouse, Laxton. He is buried in Orchard Dump Cemetery, Arleux-en- Gohelle.

Information on George Turner has been provided courtesy of Alan Laurie