
CWGC thanks the Thiepval Database Project for this story. It summarises information held at the Thiepval Visitor Centre.
Second Lieutenant Gilbert Austin Turner, 3rd Battalion, Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment) attached to 7th Battalion, The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment.
Gilbert was the eldest of the four children of George Lewis Turner (a brush maker) and his third wife Mabel E. Mary Turner of 13 Chester Terrace, Regent’s Park. There were also at least three half-siblings from George's second marriage.
Educated at Downside (1909 to 1915) he was recalled as a boy of fine character and excellent ability who took an active part in the life of the school in both sports (including cricket, hockey, gym and golf) and music where for some years he sang in the choir. He was also a member of the literary society, the Abingdon debating society and was on the staff of the school magazine The Raven.
In 1914 he gained a place at Balliol College, Oxford but postponed his university course on account of the war. He passed through Sandhurst and received a commission in January 1916 in the Royal West Kents, and shortly after was sent to France.
He was killed near Grandcourt, together with his orderly, through the explosion of a shell which penetrated through the roof of the company headquarters, where he was stationed. His company commander wrote,
…The company had attacked three days previously and gained its objective. Your son had done excellent work in keeping his men well together and in using initiative when consolidating. He was cheery throughout right up to the end. We buried him in as suitable a spot as possible, near Grandcourt…
Second Lieutenant, Turner died on 17th November 1916, aged 19.
The orderly who died with him was Private Reginald Clifford P. Baines, 13099, 7th Battalion, The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, a native of Blackburn, Lancashire he was 20 years of age.
He is commemorated on Pier & Face 11A.
