Virtual
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The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland”

Died on this date – 16th June…… Frederick Charles Turner was born at Colchester, Essex, England in 1892.

Frederick was 1 year old when he & his family moved to Australia. Charles William Turner (aged 31), his wife Lydia (aged 28) & their 3 children – Daisy E. (aged 5), Violet A. (aged 2) & Fred. C. (aged 1) were passengers on Ophir which had departed from England on 8th September, 1893 bound for Sydney, Australia.

The 1913 Australian Electoral Roll for the division of Darlinghurst recorded Frederick Charles Turner, Jeweller, of 86 Bayswater Road, Darlinghurst, Sydney, NSW.

He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 26th July, 1915 as a 22 year old, single, Jeweller from “The Bungalow” Chaleyer Street, Willoughby, N.S.W.

Gunner Frederick Charles Turner, Service number 7445, embarked from Sydney, New South Wales on HMAT Persic (A34) on 18th November, 1915 with the 5th Field Artillery Brigade – 14th Battery & disembarked at Suez on 21st December, 1915.

On 19th March, 1916 Gunner Turner proceeded to join B.E.F. (British Expeditionary Force) from Alexandria & disembarked at Marseilles, France on 25th March, 1916.

He was promoted to Sergeant on 1st April, 1916 at Blaringhem, France while posted with 5th Field Artillery Brigade – 14th Battery.

Sergeant Frederick Charles Turner was wounded in action in France on 18th April, 1916. He was admitted to 45th Casualty Clearing Station on 18th April, 1917 with shrapnel wound/s to left Hand. Sergeant Turner was transferred to No. 11 Ambulance Train on 22nd April, 1917 & admitted to 2nd Australian General Hospital at Boulogne, France on 23rd April, 1917. He embarked for England on Hospital Ship St. Andrew on 24th April, 1917.

On 25th April, 1917 Sergeant Turner was admitted to County of Middlesex War Hospital, Napsbury, London, England  with G.S.W. (gunshot wound/s) to left Arm (slight). The Hospital Admissions form recorded “Operation 28.4.17. F.B.’s removed from each wound.”  (F.B. = Foreign Body).  He was transferred & admitted to 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Dartford on 14th May, 1917. The Hospital Admissions form recorded “Has just recovered from acute tonsilitis.”

He was discharged to furlo from 18th June, 1917 to 2nd July, 1917 & was then to report to Weymouth.

Sergeant Frederick Charles Turner was marched in to No. 2 Command Depot at Weymouth, Dorset on 5th July, 1917. The Hospital Admissions form recorded “Small healed wounds (?).  ____ of hand & above L knee with little disability. Has tonsilitis with some adenitis. Should have Tonsillectomy arrange transfer to H’Field 10/7/17. Still waiting transfer.”

On 11th July, 1917 Sergeant Turner reported sick to 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Harefield, Middlesex from No. 2 Command Depot at Weymouth, Dorset. The Hospital Admissions form recorded “Enlarged Tonsils. About 1/12 ago “Septic tonsil” (left) in bed 8 days. Tonsillecting about 12 years ago. 18/7/14 Now left Tonsil much enlarged clean. Throat otherwise healthy. Enlarged cervical gland left side.” 

He was discharged to Weymouth on 1st August, 1917 & was marched in to No. 2 Command Depot at Weymouth on the same day.

He was marched out from No. 2 Command Depot on 8th August, 1917 & was marched in to No. 3 Command Depot on the same day. He was medically classified as B1 A3 (fit for overseas training camp in 2 to 3 weeks). The Hospital Admissions form recorded: “9/8/17 Wnds of thigh & hand healed. No disability.  ___ clean; Corn on sole of R. Foot.” A second Hospital Admissions form recorded “9/8/17 Tonsillectomy 11 days ago. Now convalescent. Good result B1 A1.”

Sergeant Turner was marched out from No. 3 Command Depot at Hurdcott, Wiltshire on 23rd August, 1917 & was marched in to Overseas Training Brigade at Perham Downs on 24th August, 1917.

On 16th September, 1917 Sergeant Turner was taken on strength of No. 2 Command Depot at Weymouth, Dorset.

Sergeant Frederick Charles Turner joined No. 1 S.M.A. (School of Military Aeronautics) at Reading from 4th October, 1917 & was appointed Cadet (A.I.F. List 244). He was marched in to A.F.C. (Australian Flying Corps) Depot from Reading on 15th January, 1918.

On 22nd January, 1918 Cadet Turner was marched out from A.F.C. Details to No. 5 Training Squadron. He was attached to No. 5 Training Squadron at Shawbury on 23rd January, 1918 for Elementary Instruction in Aviation.

He was marched out to 25th Wing Headquarters at Castle Bromwich on 21st March, 1918 & was detached from No. 5 Training Squadron, A.F.C.

Cadet (Sergeant) Frederick Charles Turner having graduated was appointed as Flying Officer (Pilot) & was to be Second Lieutenant in A.I.F. from 24th April, 1918. (A.I.F. List 326).

On 16th June, 1918 Second Lieutenant Frederick Charles Turner, of No. 2 Fighting School, A.F.C., was piloting a Sopwith Pup Serial number C. 271 from Marske Aerodrome, Yorkshire. He was to carry out an aerial flight with an Instructor in a Sopwith Scout. The plane was spinning at about 150 feet & hit the ground.

Second Lieutenant Frederick Charles Turner died at 11.30 am on 16th June, 1918 at Marske-by Sea, Yorkshire, England as a result of a Flying accident.

A Court of Enquiry was held at Marske Hall on 17th June, 1918 enquiring into the circumstances connected with the Accident on 16th June, 1918 at Marske involving the death of Second Lieutenant F. C. Turner, Australian Flying Corps.

Finding of Court of Enquiry – Casualty Card:

Stalled, turned into spinning nosedive & caught fire on crashing.

He was buried in Lawnswood Cemetery, West Yorkshire, England with the funeral arrangements being made by his sister - Mrs J. D. Campbell, 10 Newport Gardens, Headingly, Leeds.

His name is remembered on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Screen Wall in Lawnswood Cemetery, West Yorkshire, England “where their graves could no longer be maintained.”

Frederick C. Turner is remembered with a plaque on his parents’ grave in Macquarie Park Cemetery & Crematorium, Sydney, NSW.

(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)

https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/-lawnswood.html

Son of Charles William and Lydia TURNER, Chaleyer Street, Willoughby, New South Wales

Lieut. Frederick Charles Turner, of the Flying Corps, and late of the Field Artillery, was killed in a flying accident on June l8 last. He was a son of Mr. and Mrs. C. W. Turner, of The Bungalow, Willoughby, and was well known in amateur athletic circles in Sydney.