Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

William Frederick Turner.
By Ron Forsyth (grand nephew.)
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
John McCrae.
“On Saturday night we came into a new sector. Sunday was fairly quiet, but on Monday morning, at 10 minutes past 4, it was like hell let loose. Our lads were splendid, and sent Fritz back to his lines badly beaten: but some of the boys suffered through the enemy artillery fire, the heaviest we have yet had.” So wrote the Rev. J. Best to the parents of one of three Ballarat boys killed together that early morning of the 30th April 1917. [Ballarat Courier 10 July 1917.]
Private William John Yates, signaller, was killed by shrapnel that morning along with privates William Frederick Turner and Archibald Norman Leslie Carmichael.
“Willie” Yates’ officer, Lt. A. S. Williams, wrote further: “The tragic end occurred this morning at dawn, when the enemy advanced on our lines under cover of an intense bombardment, and was successful in entering our trenches. Sig Yates was in a dug-out together with two other men, when a shell landed 20 yards away, and two small pieces of shrapnel entered the dug-out and hit the other two men. Your son groaned once or twice, and then expired. It is understood that death was caused instantaneously through shock.” [ibid.]
1019 Private William John Yates 39th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F. 30/04/