Theodore (Cecil) Charles Turner

Theodore (Cecil) Charles Turner

Personal Information
Date of Birth	not known 1886
Place of Birth	Jarrahdale, Western Australia
Death	1954, aged 68
Place of Death	Blackwood region, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	29 years, 11 months
Description	5'5½" (1.66m) tall ; 156 lbs 70.76 kg ; fair complexion ; blue eyes ; light brown hair
Occupation	Fireman
Religion	Church of England
Address	Bunbury, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Wife , Mrs Ellen Turner
Military Information
Reg Number	5445
Date of Enlistment	20 Mar 1916
Rank	Driver
Unit/Formation	28th Battalion, 14th Reinforcement
Date of Embarkation	7 Aug 1916 ‒ 25 Sep 1916
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A28 Miltiades
Date of Return	5 Jan 1920 ‒ 16 Feb 1920
Ship Returned On	SS Cap Verde
Fate	Wounded in Action 3 May 1917
Monument	Jarrahdale Honour Roll
Medals	British War Medal Victory Medal

Pre War

In 1916 married Ellen M Scott in the Wellington district. One child (born before he departed for England?)

Electoral Roll entries - 1916 Wellington Mills, mill hand.

War Service

During training at Blackboy Hill camp, Cecil was allocated to the 14th reinforcement draft for the 28th Battalion, proceeding with them to England where he entered the 7th Training Battalion at Codford to prepare for service on the Western Front.

On 21 Dec 1916 Cecil proceeded overseas to France from Folkestone on HMT Princesse Clementine, and was taken on strength by the 28th Battalion on 18 Jan 1917. At the time the battalion had just moved out of the line and into billets at Buire where they commenced a period of training and rebuilding.

Cecil was wounded in action on 3 May 1917 at 2nd Bullecourt, when the 28th Battalion was involved in providing working parties and later infantry support to the troops who had seized parts of the German OG1 and OG2 trench systems. His wounds were described as gun shot wounds to arm and leg. Treated first by the 5th Australian Field Ambulance, he was passed back to the 3rd Australian Casualty Clearing Station the same day, before reaching the 5th General Hospital in Rouen on 4 May 1917.

Embarked on HMHS Aberdonian at Rouen for England on 31 May 1917, and the next day he was admitted to the 3rd London General Hospital in Wandsworth. On 5 Jun 1917 Cecil was transferred to the Bermondsey Military Hospital in Ladywell, London. Healing well, he was granted furlough from 10 to 24 July, but he was late reporting back, being AWOL from 3:30pm until 4:00pm the next day at Perham Downs. He was admonished and forfeited 2 days pay.

Cecil proceeded overseas again on 20 Oct 1917 via Southampton, rejoining the 28th Battalion on 28 Oct 1917 when they were in the line at Broodseinde Ridge.

On 19 Aug 1918 Cecil was appointed Driver for a period while the regular occupant was sick. He enjoyed another leave period in England from 27 Oct 1918 until he rejoined the battalion after the Armistice was announced, on 14 Nov 1918. On 18 Apr 1919 he left France for England.

His file is silent about his role between May 1919 and his departure on the SS Cap Verde for Australia in Jan 1920. While at sea on the return journey he spent 5 days in the ship's hospital with "nail in foot".

Discharged at 5th Military District on 23 Apr 1920.

Post War

Electoral Roll entries - 1925 Pindalup, teamster

External Links

• AIF Project
• RSL Virtual War Memorial