George Sydney Turton
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
George Sydney was the son of Joseph Turton and Sarah Turton née Collyer. George's father Joseph was born in 1850 in Calverton, the son of George, a framework knitter, and his wife Dinah. Before his marriage, Joseph lived with his family, first at Bottom Buildings (1851), Calverton, and then on Main Street. George's mother Sarah Collyer was also born in Calverton, birth registered 1844 (J/F/M Basford). She was the daughter of John Collyer, a builder, and his wife Sarah (nee Windle) and lived in Calverton with her family until her marriage. Joseph and Sarah were married in 1873 (O/N/D Nottingham) and had five children: Sarah Frances b. Calverton 31 July 1874 (J/A/S Basford) bap. 29 March 1904 St Laurence Long Eaton, John (Jack) Roderick b. Calverton 24 July 1875 (J/A/S Basford), Eleanor Mary b. Bulwell birth registered 1877 (J/F/M Basford) bap. 9 April 1905 St Laurence Long Eaton, George Sidney b. Bulwell 1878 (J/A/S Basford) and Mabel b. Basford 1881 (A/M/J Basford) bap. 29 March 1904 St Laurence Long Eaton. In 1881 Joseph (30) a builder, and Sarah (36) were living at the Manor House, Bulwell, Basford, with their four children, Sarah Frances (6), John Roderick (5), Eleanor Mary (4) and George Sydney (2). The family had moved to Vernon Road, Basford, by 1891. Joseph (40) was still working as a builder. Joseph and Sarah's five children were in the home on the night of the census: Sarah (16), John (15) Eleanor (14), George (12) and Mabel (9); all the children were still attending school. The eldest child, Sarah Frances, married Robert William Roberts in 1900 (J/F/M Shardlow) at St Laurence church, Long Eaton. Her husband was born in Chesterfield in 1875 (O/N/D Chesterfield/Jones). Joseph died on 30 March 1899 aged 48 and in 1901 his widow, Sarah (57), was living at 169 Station Road, Long Eaton, Derbyshire. She was living on her own means. Also in the home on the night of the census were her married daughter Sarah (26) and son-in-law Robert (25), a lace draughtsman, and her youngest daughter Mabel (19) of no occupation. Also in the household was a boarder, Fred Bairstow (23) b. Leeds, a bank clerk. George and his brother John have not yet been traced on the 1901 and 1911 Census. It is possible that John joined the army in 1896 while George joined the Sherwood Foresters in March 1900 and later emigrated to Canada. Sarah was still living at 169 Station Road in 1911 with her two unmarried daughters, Eleanor (34) and Mabel (29); neither of whom was employed. Also in the household was a boarder, Matthew Strangeham (31) b. Oxton Cheshire, a bank clerk. The CWGC record also gives Sarah's address as 169 Station Road, Long Eaton. Sarah died on 29 February 1928 aged 84. She was then living at 6 Grange Road, Long Eaton. Administration of her will was awarded to her son John and daughters Sarah and Mabel. Both Joseph and Sarah were buried in Calverton where they were born. Of George's siblings: Sarah Frances (Roberts) was living at 23 Walton Street, Long Eaton, in 1911 with her husband Robert William (36), a Leivers lace draughtsman, and their daughter Frances Winifred (3, b. 29 August 1907, bap. 25 September 1907 St Laurence Long Eaton). Robert died aged 63 in 1939 (Long Eaton) and at the time of the England & Wales Register of 1939 his widow and her daughter Frances, an uncertificated infant teacher, were living at 159 Station Road, Long Eaton. Sarah died on 19 July 1944; she was still living at Grange View, 159 Station Road. Her daughter Frances Winifred died unmarried in 1993 (O/N/D Ilkeston Derbyshire). John Roderick probably enlisted in the Yorkshire Regiment (5207) in 1896 when he was 21 years old and later served in France in the war. He married Elsie Redford (b. 26 March 1896) in 1919 (O/N/D Shardlow Derbyshire) and in 1939 they were living at . John was working as a joiner and builder. Also in the household were their three daughters: Elsie (b. 29 September 1920) and Margaret A. (b. 19 November 1922) who were both tobacco workers at John Players, and Doreen M. (b. 21 March 1925) an office girl. There was also probably a son, Roderick George Allan b. 1927 (J/A/S Bourne Lincolnshire/Redford, d. 10 October 2014/2014 Nottingham). John died on 17 April 1958; his home address was then 11 Roderick Street, Basford. His wife survived him. Eleanor Mary and Mabel have not yet been traced after 1911 although Mabel was an executor of her mother's will in 1928.
4th battalion, 76th Regiment Canadian Infantry (Central Ontario Regiment) George Sydney served for 12 years on a limited engagement with the Sherwood Foresters (7455) attesting at Derby on 6 March 1900, the date from which his limited engagement was counted. According to his service record he had previously served in the Northumberland Fusiliers and at the time he attested was serving in the 1st (V) Bn Derby Regiment. He served in South Africa from 16 March 1901 and appears to have elected to remain in the country 'on the embarkation of his unit for home' on 17 May 1902. He qualified for the South Africa campaign medals. George later emigrated to Canada and enlisted in the Canadian Infantry on 28 June 1915 (name of place illegible). The record gives his place of birth as Bulwell and date of birth as 31 March 1899 (sic). His trade was carpenter but he declared that he had served for 12 years with the 1st Derbys (Sherwood Foresters). His mother, Sarah, of Station Road, Long Eaton, was named as his next of kin. Although the Attestation paper is marked 'medically unfit' George was accepted in the Candadian Infantry. George served in France and died of wounds on 22nd February 1917; he was buried in Lapugnoy Military Cemetery (grave ref. II.A.9).
George Sydney is commemorated on the family gravestone, Calverton Cemetery, Nottinghamshire. Inscription: 'In loving memory of Joseph Turton who died March 30th 1899 in his 49th years. We sail the sea of life. A calm one, one finds and one of tempest. and the tempest o'er Death is the quiet haven of us all. Also Sarah wife of the above who died February 29th 1928 aged 84 years. Rest in Peace. Also George Sydney Pioneer Sergeant 76th Canadians. Youngest son of the above died of wounds February 22nd 1917 aged 38 years. Buried at Lapugnoy Military Cemetery, France. Deeply mourned.' Notice published 6th March 1917 in the Nottingham Evening Post :- “TURTON.-- Died of wounds, February 22nd,1917, George Sydney Turton, Canadian Machine Gun Corps, aged 38 years, the youngest son of the late Joseph Turton, builder, Old Basford. – Deeply mourned by his sorrowing mother, sisters, and brother Jack (in France).” Above is courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918 Probate: Turton Sarah of 6 Grange-road Long Eaton Derbyshire widow died 29 February 1928 Probate Nottingham 15 May to John Roderick Turton joiner Sarah Frances Roberts (wife of Robert William Roberts) and Mabel Turton spinster. Effects £8398 15s. 7d. Probate: Roberts Sarah Frances of Grange View 159 Station-road Long Eaton Derbyshire widow died 19 July 1944 probate Nottingham 2 September to Frances Winifred Roberts [daughter] spinster. Effects £2599 4s. 11d. Probate: Turton John Roderick of 11 Roderick Street Basford Nottingham died 17 April 1958 at The Sherwood Hospital Nottingham Probate Nottingham 29 May to Elsie Turton widow and Roderick George Allan Turton shop assistant. Effects £1852 15s.
