Name
Walter Lawrence Turner
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
15/07/1916
27
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Corporal
12850
Bedfordshire Regiment
6th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Pier and Face 2C
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Holy Trinity Church Memorial, Weston, Not on the Clothall memorial
Pre War
Born in Clothall, Herts in 1887, son of George and Eliza Turner. Baptised in Clothall on 12 April 1888. Worked for a number of years in East Finchley as a grocer's assistant, and then as a gardener at Weston Park for Mr M R Pryor. Known as a man of good character and obliging manners, he had the respect of many friends in both Weston and East Finchley.
He was noted for his many little acts of kindness to friends and neighbours. He was a well known footballer and cricketer and could be relied upon for a good innings. Married Mary Elizabeth Rossell on 1 June 1916 at Chipping Barnet. 1911 Census: Living with parents, sister Lizzie and cousin Alfred Game in Maiden Street, Weston, and working as a domestic gardener.
Wartime Service
Enlisted in Hitchin, Herts in the first month of the war and went out to France on 30 July 1915.
His first leave from the Front was on 29 May to marry Nurse Mary Elizabeth Rossell. He returned to the Front on 5 June and was killed in action just two weeks after his marriage. He died during the first battle of the Somme during the battle of Delville Wood. On 15 July the brigade started to cross no-man’s-land but just short of Pozieres they were brought to a halt by machine gun fire. After 6pm, following another bombardment from their own artillery, they managed to consolidate their position. Walter was not found after this battle.
Additional Information
War gratuity of £9.10s granted to widow Mary. Mary Elizabeth was the daughter of Mr W Rossell of Tewksbury, Gloucester. She returned to live in Tewksbury at 5 Newland Place, Barton Road after the war.
Acknowledgments
Peter Handy, Brenda Palmer
