TURNBULL, George Andrew
| Service Number: | 2155 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Lance Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | 40th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Burnie, Tasmania, Australia, 22 April 1893 |
| Home Town: | Carrick, Meander Valley, Tasmania |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Motor mechanic |
| Died: | Killed in action, France, 28 March 1918, aged 24 years |
| Cemetery: |
Heilly Station Cemetery Plot VII, Row A, Grave No. 53. |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Boat Harbour State School HR, Burnie War Memorial, Carrick Memorial Wall Honour Roll, Westbury War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 23 Sep 1916: | Involvement Private, 2155, 40th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '18' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Seang Choon embarkation_ship_number: A49 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 23 Sep 1916: | Embarked Private, 2155, 40th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Seang Choon, Melbourne | |
| 27 Feb 1918: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lance Sergeant, 40th Infantry Battalion | |
| 28 Mar 1918: | Involvement 2155, 40th Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 2155 awm_unit: 40th Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Lance Sergeant awm_died_date: 1918-03-28 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
George Turner’s younger brother, 1188 Pte Frederick Herbert Turnbull, 7th Machine Gun Company AIF, had been killed in action at Pozieres 5 August 1916, aged 19. They were the sons of Alexander and Annie Turnbull, of Westbury, Tasmania.
George was lost his life during an advance made by the 40th Battalion on 28 March 1918. The attack was successful but the operation cost the lives of 34 soldiers of the unit, and almost all of the men are buried in Plot VII, Row A of the Heilly Station Cemetery.
The following article appeared in the Launceston Daily Telegraph during June 1918.
Mr. and Mrs. Alex Turnbull, of Carrick, have received information through Corporal Leslie Connolly regarding the death of their son. Writing to his another at Carrick he says: “I am sorry to tell you poor Sergeant George Turnbull was killed on March 28. While bandaging a wounded officer a shell burst, and killed both of them.” Lieutenant B. W. Turner, also of Carrick, writes to Mr. and Mrs. Turnbull as follows: 'It is with very deep regret that I pen these few lines to try and tell you, or, at least, give you an idea with what respect he was held in the company. There was not a more popular sergeant or man in the company. He was every inch a man, and a better soldier than poor George never left Australia. After he got his well-earned promotion, he was attached to my platoon, and we were all very pleased to have him, I can assure you. At the time he was killed I was away from the company, and when I joined up a day or two ago, I was very sorry to learn of the fate which befell poor old George. This is a subject I can write but very little on, but I know this, that his place will be very hard to fill here; but with you his place cannot be filled. You have my deepest sympathy in your very sad loss. He died in one of the noblest causes possible; and that will be a little consolation to you.”
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