Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

TURNER Frederic Boyd AM MB BS FRACP FACRM

1911-1992

Frederic Boyd Turner was born, on 18th September 1911, in Adelaide, SA.  He was the son of Frederic Boyd Turner, a bank manager and Margaretta, nee Rowe.  Educated at St Peter's College, Turner studied medicine at the University of Adelaide, where he was a keen hockey player. Recommended for the BMA Prize in Medicine, he graduated in 1933. He did his resident year at the RAH, before taking up a general practice at Tailem Bend. Turner converted to the Catholic faith and married Eileen Mary Funder, on 18th September 1937, at St Francis Xavier Cathedral. She was the daughter of John Funder and Florence Othelia, nee O’Brien of Semaphore.

Turner enlisted in the AAMC, on 3rd November 1941, and was placed on the Reserve of Officers. He named his wife as his next of kin, and they were living at Tailem Bend, SA, at the time. Called up for full-time duty, on 3rd September 1942, he was posted to 34 Camp Hospital at Wayville, in SA L of C. He had several small postings, including 52 Camp Hospital and 3 Inf Trg Bde, and unfortunately, he contracted mumps and was evacuated to 32 Camp Hospital. On discharge he was transferred the QLD L of C area still attached to 3 Inf Trg Bde and attended Land Head Quarters AAMC School. He re-joined his unit and then was posted as MO to 74 Camp Hospital, NT on 30th January 1943, just after his son was born on 12th January 1943. Throughout 1942 and 1943 he had several admissions to hospital for upper respiratory infections. Turner remained with 74 Camp Hospital until he was taken into the 2/AIF and promoted to major in July 1945. He embarked for Jacquinot Bay, New Britain and Bougainville on the 23rd June 1945, serving with 17th FdAmb, returning to Australia on 28th July 1946. Turner returned to Adelaide and transferred to the Reserve of Officers. Turner remained in the CMF, as OC Medical Division 104 AMH, Adelaide, retiring at the rank of lieutenant colonel, in 1955.

Following the war, Turner joined a general practice group in a south-western suburb of Adelaide.  He became a member of the RACP in 1948 and was an honorary physician at the ACH, retaining a part-time position in the general practice. His wife died tragically of an embolism after childbirth, in 1952, leaving him with the new baby and his other five children. He re-married, a nurse, Janice Moriarty, in 1954, and they had three children.  He was very interested in the care of children with disabilities and became a part-time MO at the Ashford House School for children with cerebral palsy, in 1968. He gained his Fellowship of the College of Rehabilitation Medicine in 1979. Turner was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 1990, in recognition of his work with children.  Frederic Boyd Turner died on 5th October 1992, survived by his wife and nine children.

Source

Blood, Sweat and Fears III: Medical Practitioners South Australia, who Served in World War 2. 

Swain, Jelly, Verco, Summers. Open Books Howden, Adelaide 2019. 

Uploaded by Annette Summers AO RFD