Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Published Biography

Blood Sweat and Fears: Medical Practitioners and Medical Students of South Australian who Served in World War 1, C Verco, A Summers, T Swain & M Jelly. July 2014

Additional Biography

Early Years

Charles Trevor Turner was born on the 2nd of January 1888 in the Riverland town of Morgan, South Australia.

His family origins begin in England, with his grandfather, Charles (b 1827 - d 1890) emigrating from Wiltshire to South Australia with his wife Ann (née Rider b 1819 - d 1894) in the early 1850s where he set up one of the early brick kilns in the Strathalbyn area.

Charles' father, Charles John Turner (b 1855 - d 1940), known as John Turner, was born at “Littlecut Farm”, Belvidere, Strathalbyn, South Australia, while his mother, Agnes Sarah Matilda Street (b 1854 - d 1935) had come to Australia from Birmingham, England. They were married in 1878 in Wentworth, New South Wales. Charles Trevor was the second youngest of their six children (3 girls and 3 Boys). (See Appendix 1)

Charles' father moved to Western Australian Goldfield's about 1903, leaving the Agnes and the family destitute back in South Australia.

Agnes also eventually moved to Western Australia with family members, and in 1909, they were living at Sandstone, near Coolgardie, where John was working in the minefields. In 1910, the family were residing at 174 Cheriton St, East Perth. By this time Charles had been attending school in Perth.

By 1913, Agnes was living at Claisebrook Road, Perth, however her husband was not at this residence, so may have again been living in the goldfields.

Education

After moving to Western Australia, Charles attended Perth Technical School where he excelled in his final year in 1909. He made the Senior Public Examinations Honours List for English Literature and gained a Credit in Latin. The previous year he had only passed one subject, so now 20 years of age he had finally demonstrated his academic ability.

Adelaide University

Following completion of his secondary education, he decided to study medicine. At the time Western Australia did not have a medical school, so Charles came to South Australia and enrolled at the University of Adelaide. Other members of the Turner family were still residing in Adelaide.

He was a brilliant medical student and topped (or equal) his year from 1910 until 1914 when he graduated. He was awarded the following prizes.
• Elder Prize (2nd Year Medicine - 1911)
• Dr Davies Thomas Scholarship (3rd Year Medicine - 1912)
• Dr Davies Thomas Scholarship (4th Year Medicine - 1913)

After graduating MB BS in 1914, he was registered to practice in February 1915 and secured a position at the Adelaide Hospital.

Adelaide University Sport

While at Adelaide University Charles played football for the "Blacks" from 1912 until 1915. He was Captain of the B Grade team and a premiership player in 1914.

There is no record of Charles playing cricket for Adelaide University, however he later participated in cricket matches played on University oval between the honorary medical staff and resident doctors.

Early Medical Career and World War 1 Enlistment

Following his graduation, Charles obtained a position as a resident medical officer at the Adelaide Hospital, where he would have gained valuable experience before enlisting in May 1915. At that time, his mother was listed as his next-of-kin and residing at 113 Rundle St., Kent Town South Australia . He was commissioned with the rank of Captain and by August 1915 he was overseas and assigned to the 2nd Australian General Hospital located in Egypt. Soon after, in December 1915, with the Gallipoli evacuation complete, he was transferred to the newly formed 1st Pioneer Battalion as a medical officer and in March 1916, after a period of training in Egypt, was shipped out to France and was soon seeing action on the Western Front.

See document for details of the 1st Pioneer Battalion's activity in WWI.

Captain Charles Trevor Turner was awarded the Military Cross in June 1917 and later in September was promoted to the rank of Major.

After returning to Australia at the end of hostilities and following his discharge in 1919, he was appointed Medical Superintendant of the Adelaide Hospital. The following articles from the Royal Adelaide Hospital and Royal Australian College of Surgeons history archives provide some information on his association with the Adelaide Hospital and his War service.

Some published newspaper articles while at the Adelaide Hospital and later in private practice in Unley are provided for interest: (see document).

Now in his 40s, as a member of the Adelaide Hospital Honorary Staff Cricket Team, Charles played in the annual matches against the resident medical staff.

In 1935 Charles accepted a position as Medical Officer at the Mount Gambier Hospital.

Newspaper articles give some insight into Charles' interests and activities at Mount Gambier. (see document).

In April 1940, Charles' father John passed away, his mother Agnes had died in 1935.

Mrs Turner also particiapated in community affairs and was a member of the Country Women's Association

World War II

Charles served in WW2 from December 1941 - 1944 and was called up as a surgeon at Australian Military Hospital 105 ( Daw Park) for 6 months in 1942. Built by the South Australian Government as a military hospital it was planned that is would be used as a repatriation hospital after the War. Major Turner's service continued until February 1944 when he suffered a broken ankle ("attributed to conditions of service") and was placed on the retired list.

In 1944 Charles was involved in the plans for a new hospital for Mount Gambier.

Post WWII

In 1946 Charles was facing several issues at the hospital including overcrowding for maternity patients and staff shortages.

In 1946, the Turner's moved from Mount Gambier to take over a medical practice at Elsternwick, Victoria.

Sadly, Charles wife, Katherine, died in March 1949. Married in 1922, they had four children: Helen (also a doctor), Rosemary, Katherine "Jane" and Charles Trevor jnr.

Sadly, Katherine had passed away only a few months before the marriage of two of her daughters.

Death

Charles Trevor Turner died on the 28th of May 1977 at Mitcham Victoria. He was survived by his children and his second wife, Mona Hosking, who he had married shortly after Agnes' death.

Profile added with the permission of the author Rob O'Shannassy.

For the complete profile including photographs, newspaper articles, documents and sources prepared for the AUFC/AUCC WWI Memorial Project (in the period 2015-2019) please see the document attached.