No. 29740, Private, William Henry TURNER
Aged 32
|
William Henry Turner was born in Fordham (Newmarket Q3-1885 3B:527) son of George and Elizabeth TURNER (née PORTER).
1891 census...Aged 5, he was at Market Street, Fordham with his father George TURNER [41] platelayer; his mother Elizabeth [39]; sister Ethel [9] and brother John [8]. All were born in Fordham. 1901 census...Aged 15, a farm labourer, he was at Market Street, Fordham with his parents and brother John (grocer's delivery man). In 1909, in Soham, he married Ellen Rosie LILES [6-8-1888] 1911 census...Aged 25, a farm labourer, he was at Carter Street, Fordham with his wife Ellen [22] born Soham and their daughter, Hilda Ethel [20-3-1904], born Fordham. His parents were at Station Road, Fordham. There were 2 more children, Percy [2-1-1913] and Ella Llan [3-9-1916]. |
|
He enlisted in Newmarket.
click here to go to Steven Fuller's excellent website www.bedfordregiment.org.uk for the whole battalion war diary 22 Mar 1918 - Verlaines Early in the morning a few Germans worked into "C" Coys position, from a Sunken Road just in front of our wire. "A" and "C" Coys were heavily shelled all day and at about 2 p.m. the enemy attacked in large numbers. "C" Coys position was taken and some of our men taken prisoner. The remnants of "A" and "B" Coy hung on till surrounded by large numbers of enemy. They fought very well and only a few got back. By 4 p.m. the enemy could be seen advancing on either side of STEVENS REDOUBT. At 5 p.m. Orders were received to withdraw. The withdrawal was carried out at once, but there were a number of casualties as the withdrawal had to be made across open country and the enemy machine gun and shrapnel fire was very heavy. The Battalion withdrew to VERLAINES via GERMAINE - FORESTE - VILLERS ST CHRISTOPHE and HAM. Billetted in VERLAINES for the night. CWGC has the number killed at 54.
photo; Commonwealth War Graves Commission click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
