Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Reginald Francis Turnbull who enlisted in the Boer war appears to have gone by different names including George Reginald Francis under which he also enlisted in WW1.

When Reginald Francis Turnbull enlisted in 1901 in the 5th QIB and his details were published with the rank and file in The Queenslander, 16 Mar 1901, he noted his N.O.K. as Rev. A. Turnbull, St John's, New Farm, Hobart. In the original nominal roll for the 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen Contingent, held by National Archives, it notes his N.O.K. as his father Rev. A. Turnbull, St. John's, Newtown, Hobart.

He enlisted again under George Reginald Turnbull in 1915 for WW1, however, he did not embark as he was found medically unfit due to asthma which he indicated he contracted while serving in South Africa in 1902, see page 16 of his WW1 service record. The Boer war nominal roll compiled by Murray lists two soldiers with the surname Turnbull, however only one, Reginald Francis Turnbull noted his N.O.K. as his father Rev. A. Turnbull. The Boer War Service Paybooks for the 5th QIB also note he was invalided back to Australia after the main body of the 5th had returned.

On his WW1 Attestation Paper, dated 7 Apr 1915, it is noted that; he was born at Collingwood, Victoria and was 36 yaers 3 months of age; he was married and a mechanical engineer and electrician; his N.O.K. was his wife Mrs. George Turnbull, Sandhills via Bundaberg; and he had previously served in South Africa with the QIB.

Based on his statements of N.O.K. on his Boer war enlistment and details held by BDM Qld on his death registration it would appear that he was the son of Rev. Archibald Turnbull and his first wife Harriet Turnbull. His father had a complex life spent in NSW, Victoria, South Australia, and Tasmania, most notably serving in clergy and missionary positions and has been recorded in the Australian Dictionary of Biography- see links. Note, he was in Tasmania at Newtown, Hobart, close to the time Reginald enlisted in 1901.

As he appears to have used different names during his life it is unclear when Reginald/George was born. It is estimated he was born about 1877 in Victoria, a son to Archibald Turnbull and Harriet Turnbull. He married under the name George Reginald Turnbull to Jessie Dautel on 17 Nov 1905 in Queensland and they had 5 children.

(source- AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p. 501; National Archives Australia- B 5172 Nominal Roll of 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen Contingent Queensland Defence Force for service in South Africa, p. 6; Qld State Archives- Boer War Service Paybooks 5th QIB, Bk 3 p. 48; National Archives Australia- WW1 service record).