Name
Frederick Turner
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
28/04/1917
23
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lance Corporal
20582
Bedfordshire Regiment
6th Bn.
'D' Coy.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
CHILI TRENCH CEMETERY, GAVRELLE
E. 2.
France
Headstone Inscription
A DEARLY BELOVED BROTHER WHOSE END WAS PEACE
UK & Other Memorials
St Ippolyts Village Memorial,
Roll of Honour, St Ippolyts Church,
Not on the Hitchin memorials,
We are not aware of any Ashbrook memorial
Pre War
Frederick was born in 1894 in St Ippolyts, Hitchin, the third son of William Turner, a farm labourer and Emma (nee Cains). Frederick was one of 9 children.
On the 1901 Census Frederick aged 6, was living with his parents, 3 brothers and sister Daisy in Ashbrook, St Ippolyts, Herts. His father was working as a rose gardener. The 1911 Census records him as Fred aged 16, living with his parents and 2 brothers Harry 23, William 21 at 4 Lower Row, Ashbrook, St Ippolyts, Hitchin, Herts. His occupation is a General Farm Labourer.
He worked for Mr M H Foster (county councillor and JP) of Little Wymondley and had been since his schooldays.
Wartime Service
Frederick enlisted in Hitchin and was posted to the 6th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, with the service number 20582 and served in ‘D’ Company and heId the rank of Lance Corporal.
In April 1917 the Battalion was in the Arras Sector as a unit of 37 Division. The Battalion had been in Support for an attack on Greenland Hill on 24 April 1917. After spending 3 days in the trench they had dug, orders came to for a second attack on 28 April. The Division attacked Greenland Hill and achieved its objective without much difficulty, but it was followed by a series of fierce counter-attacks directed against the troops to the left of the 6th Battalion and that ground was used to enfilade the wrecked trenches captured by the 6th Battalion.
The Battalion was nearly annihilated losing all the officers killed or wounded and only 58 other ranks came out of the action unwounded. Frederick died during this action and was buried in Row E, Grave 2 of Chili Trench Cemetery in France.
Additional Information
A private inscription on the stone reads "A dearly beloved brother whose end was peace". The inscription was requested by Mr J. Turner, 4 Lower Cottages, Ashbrook, Hitchin, Herts).
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
David C Baines, Jonty Wild, Stuart Osborne
