PropertyValue
rdf:type
rdfs:label
  • Alexander Buller Turner
rdfs:comment
  • Turner was born at home in Reading, Berkshire on 22 May 1893 to Charles Turner, later Major in the Royal Berkshire Regiment, and his second wife Jane Elizabeth, only daughter of Admiral Sir Alexander Buller. He was educated at Wellington College, Berkshire and commissioned into the Special Reserve of Officers, Royal Berkshire Regiment, 3rd (Reserve) Battalion, in 11 September 1914. He was subsequently transferred to 1st Battalion. His brother was Lieutenant Colonel Victor Buller Turner VC and had a family connection with General Sir Redvers Buller VC.
owl:sameAs
Unit
dcterms:subject
dbkwik:military/property/wikiPageUsesTemplate
serviceyears
  • 1914
Birth Date
  • 1893-05-22
Branch
  • 23
death place
  • Chocques, France
Name
  • Alexander Buller Turner
Birth Place
  • Reading, Berkshire
Awards
death date
  • 1915-10-01
Rank
  • Second Lieutenant
Battles
Relations
  • Lieutenant Colonel Victor Buller Turner VC
placeofburial
  • Chocques Military Cemetery
abstract
  • Turner was born at home in Reading, Berkshire on 22 May 1893 to Charles Turner, later Major in the Royal Berkshire Regiment, and his second wife Jane Elizabeth, only daughter of Admiral Sir Alexander Buller. He was educated at Wellington College, Berkshire and commissioned into the Special Reserve of Officers, Royal Berkshire Regiment, 3rd (Reserve) Battalion, in 11 September 1914. He was subsequently transferred to 1st Battalion. He was 22 years old, and a second lieutenant in the 3rd Battalion, The Royal Berkshire Regiment (Princess Charlotte of Wales's), British Army, attached to 1st Battalion during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC: On 28 September 1915 at Fosse 8, near Vermelles, France, when the regimental bombers could make no headway, Second Lieutenant Turner volunteered to lead a new bombing attack. He made his way down the communication trench practically alone, throwing bombs incessantly with such dash and determination that he drove off the Germans about 150 yards without a check. His action enabled the reserves to advance with very little loss and subsequently covered the flank of his regiment in its retirement, thus probably averting the loss of some hundreds of men. Second Lieutenant Turner died three days later of the wounds received in this action. He was shot in the abdomen at close range during the action for which he was awarded the VC. He was reported to have died at No. 1 Casualty Clearing Station, Chocques on 1 October and he was buried at the Military Cemetery Chocques. His brother was Lieutenant Colonel Victor Buller Turner VC and had a family connection with General Sir Redvers Buller VC. His Victoria Cross is displayed at The Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment (Salisbury) Museum, Salisbury, Wiltshire. The citation for his award, published in the London Gazette on 18 November 1915, reads as follows: