No. 29046, Private, Arthur TURNER
Aged 28
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Arthur Turner was born in Fordham on 29th June 1888 (Newmarket Q3-1888 3B:512), baptised on 2nd September 1888 in Fordham, son of Henry and Charlotte
TURNER (née SARGENT).
1891 census...Aged 2, he was at Church Street, Fordham with his father Henry TURNER [36] farm labourer; his mother Charlotte [40]; brothers Harry W. [14] farm labourer, George [12] farm labourer, William [11], Walter [9] and Charles [7] and sister Ellen [5]. The entire family were born in Fordham. 1901 census...Aged 12, he was still at Church Street, Fordham with his parents, brothers George (sewerage labourer), Charles (farm labourer) and Edward [6] and sister Ellen. 1911 census...Aged 21, a farm labourer, he was at Church Street, Fordham with his parents and brothers George and Edward. All the men were farm labourers He was a younger brother of Charles Turner who died in France in 1918 see here |
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He enlisted in Newmarket in 10th February 1916 No.26594 Suffolk Regiment and was placed on Reserves. he gave his age as 27 years 7 months,
was 5ft 1.5inches (156.2 cm)tall, chest 35.5" to 37.5" (90.2 to 95.3 cm), a labourer from Church Street, Fordham, next of kin, father Henry Turner.
Mobilised on 22nd March 1916 he was transferred to No.29046 Norfolk Regiment, 3rd Battalion and to the 2nd Battalion on 3rd September 1916 when embarking on HMT "Tahiti" at Devonport. Disembarked in Basra 28th September 1916. He joined the battalion at Bassouia in the field on 10th February 1917. From F Loraine Petrie O.B.E. "History of the Norfolk Regiment":- The 2nd Norfolks , at 6 am on the 24th February 1917 resumed their attack on the Dahra Ridge.Norfolks in the centre, Gurkhas on the right and Punjabis on the left. After 800 yards the Punjabis were driven back, exposing the left flank of the Norfolks. Despite this the Norfolks and Gurkhas reached their objective, with most Norfolk casualties resulting from enfilade fire for three hours on their exposed left flank. They spent the rest of the day on the captured ridge before being relieved that night.. Casualties were:- 1 officer killed and 7 wounded, 10 other ranks killed, 112 wounded and 7 missing. One of those killed was William Boon from Fordham. see here Arthur received a severe wound to the right knee on 24th February 1917 and was taken to Amara British Hospital. There they were faced with a very severe wound to the right knee, shattered fibula and tibia and fractured patella and they amputated the leg. His condition worsened to dangerously ill on 19th March 1917 and he died of his wounds on 3rd April.. His personaL effects of just two letters were forwarded to his father in Fordham.
photo; Commonwealth War Graves Commission The headstones in this cemetery were not vandalised by the locals, they were found to have been affected by salts in the soil, so in 1933 they were all
removed and the names recorded on the screen wall. click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
