TURNER, Sydney George
| Service Number: | 3495 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 53rd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Steel Street, Surry Hills, New South Wales, Australia, 12 August 1891 |
| Home Town: | Portland, Lithgow, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Mechanical Engineer |
| Died: | Died of wounds - Gassed, Cheltenham Area V.A.D. Hospital, Gloucestershire, England , 2 May 1918, aged 26 years |
| Cemetery: |
Cheltenham Cemetery, Prestbury, England |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 24 Jan 1917: | Involvement Private, 3495, 53rd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '19' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Anchises embarkation_ship_number: A68 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 24 Jan 1917: | Embarked Private, 3495, 53rd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Anchises, Sydney |
Help us honour Sydney George Turner's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Cathy Sedgwick
The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick (OAM) – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland”
Sydney George Turner was born at Steel Street, Surry Hills, Sydney, NSW on 12th August, 1891 to parents Harry and Emily Rose Turner (nee Sare).
Emily Rose Turner, mother of Sydney George Turner, died in 1892 & her death was registered in the district of Granville, Sydney, NSW.
His father - Harry Turner married Elizabeth Stockdale in 1896 in the district of Sydney, NSW.
Sydney George Turner was a 23 year old Mechanic when he enlisted with the Australian Naval and Military Expedition on 11th August, 1914.
His service number was 549 & he was posted to E Company, 1st Tropical on 11th August, 1914.
Private Sydney George Turner embarked from Sydney on H.M.A.T. Berrima (A35) on 19th August, 1914. His service was terminated on 28th January, 1915 having served for 171 days – the period of engagement.
Newspaper Item – Lithgow Mercury, NSW – 1 February, 1915:
PORTLAND
Syd. Turner, who was a member of the expeditionary force that went to New Guinea returned home on Saturday. He should have returned home a couple of weeks ago, but was suffering from malaria. He was in hospital at Rabaul for about a fortnight, and was bad off and on for about five weeks. During his period of service he was in the military police. Though pleased at the experience gained by the expedition, Syd is not at all enamoured of the country, and would not are to undertake another trip to the tropics. Though not quite recovered the returned soldier is improving, and hopes to soon be quite well, as his many friends wish to see him.
According to information provided by his mother for the Roll of Honour – Sydney George Turner was in the Garrison Military Police at Madang, New Guinea then came back & went to England to make munitions then came back to Australia & enlisted for the front.
A death was registered in 1915 in the district of Portland, NSW for Harry Turner, father of Sydney George Turner.
Newspaper Item – Lithgow Mercury, NSW – 19 July, 1916:
PORTLAND
Mr. Syd. Turner who has been in England for some months, returned by the Malwa last Monday, and arrived home on Tuesday. He volunteered and went to Rabaul, and was present at the occupation of the German possessions. Unfortunately, he contracted fever in New Guinea, and was invalided home. In Sydney he was for some time in hospital. After some months he volunteered again for service abroad, but failed to pass the medical test. Not to be deterred, he went to England as a munition worker, and was for some months in Birmingham, in a munition factory. His health, however, prevented him from working longer in England, and he was forced to leave. He is still somewhat affected by the malaria, but is feeling the benefit of the sea trip. He feels very disappointed at not being able to take part further in some way in the present struggle.
On 20th November, 1916 Sydney George Turner enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) as a 25 year old, single, Mechanical Engineer from Cleveland Street, Sydney, NSW.
Private Sydney George Turner, Servicer number 3495, embarked from Sydney, NSW on HMAT Anchises (A68) on 24th January, 1917 with the 53rd Infantry Battalion, 9th Reinforcements & disembarked at Devonport, England on 27th March, 1917. Private Turner had been admitted to Ship’s Hospital on the voyage from 28th February, 1917 to 2nd March, 1917 with Influenza.
Reinforcements were only given basic training in Australia. Training was completed in training units in England. Some of these were located in the Salisbury Plain & surrounding areas in the county of Wiltshire.
He was taken on strength of A.A.V.C. (Australian Army Veterinary Corps) Details at Parkhouse, Wiltshire, England on 4th May, 1917 from 53rd Battalion.
On 16th May, 1917 Private Turner proceeded overseas to France & was taken on strength at Calais on 17th May, 1917 from A.A.V.C. Details from England.
Private Turner was sent to Hospital sick on 19th May, 1917. He was admitted to 30th General Hospital at Calais, France on 19th May, 1917 – cause N.Y.D. (not yet determined). Private Turner was discharged to duty on 28th May, 1917 & rejoined his Unit the same day (Australian Veterinary Hospital).
He was written up for a Crime at Coquellles on 7th October, 1917 – Absent from Tattoo Roll Call at 9.15 pm. He was awarded 1 extra picquet by O.C. Australian Veterinary Hospital on 8th October, 1917.
On 14th October, 1917 Private Turner was struck off strength of Australian Veterinary Hospital on proceeding to Base Depot at Havre to join 53rd Battalion. He was marched in to A.G.B.D. (Australian General Base Depot) at Havre, France on 15th October, 1917 from A.V.H. (Australian Veterinary Hospital). Private Turner was marched out to 5th A.D.B.D. (Australian Divisional Base Depot) at Havre, France on 17th October, 1917. He was marched out to his Unit from 5th A.D.B.D. on 24th October, 1917 & was taken on strength of 53rd Battalion in the Field on 26th October, 1917. Private Turner was re-allotted a Regimental Number of 3495A (due to duplication of numbers).
He proceeded on leave to UK from 16th February, 1918 & rejoined his Unit (53rd Battalion) in the Field on 9th March, 1918.
Private Sydney George Turner was wounded in action – Gassed on 18th April, 1918. He was admitted to 2/3rd HC – gassed mustard then transferred to Field Ambulance on 18th April, 1918. Private Turner was transferred & admitted to 12th Casualty Clearing Station on 18th April, 1918 then transferred to Ambulance Train the same day. He was admitted to 9th General Hospital at Rouen, France on 19th April, 1918. Private Turner embarked for England on Hospital Ship Grantully Castle on 21st April, 1918.
On 22nd April, 1918 Private Turner was admitted to Voluntary Aid Hospital, Cheltenham (affiliated with 2nd Southern General Hospital, Bristol), Gloucestershire, England having been gassed & was listed as dangerously ill. (The Hospital Admissions form listed the Hospital as St. John, Cheltenham).
Private Sydney George Turner died at 1 pm on 2nd May, 1918 at Cheltenham Area V.A.D. Hospital, Gloucestershire, England from wounds – gassed.
He was buried in Cheltenham Cemetery, Gloucestershire, England & has a Commonwealth War Graves Commission headstone.
(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/cheltenham.html
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