Uncle Bob
Robert Malcolm Turner
Private 5794, 13th Battalion AIF
Killed in Action, Tuesday 28th November 1916.
Buried at Bancourt British Cemetery
The following information has been generously provided by Mr Scott Wilson. Scott has been researching WW1 Service men and women from the Berowra area. We thank Scott for allowing us to reproduce his work and for his wonderful contribution to our family history.
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Robert Malcolm Turner was born in Tumut in 1892. Robert enlisted in the AIF on 14th February 1916 at Casula, NSW. He was twenty-four years of age when he enlisted, single and living at Railway Street, Epping. He gave his occupation as a clerk, clerk by necessity, engineer by inclination. Robert’s nephew, John Chappell recalls that “in 1914 he spent a year on his Uncle Henry’s farm at Wingham sorting himself out and built a plane with his younger brother Clive on the farm “Allandale”.
Sadly no records can be found of the aircraft. That the mechanical arts held appeal for Robert may provide an explanation for his mother, Caroline, recording his occupation as a “motor expert” for the Australian War memorial Honour Roll details. It is likely that Robert tinkered on the aircraft’s engine.
Private 5794, 13th Battalion AIF
Killed in Action, Tuesday 28th November 1916.
Buried at Bancourt British Cemetery
The following information has been generously provided by Mr Scott Wilson. Scott has been researching WW1 Service men and women from the Berowra area. We thank Scott for allowing us to reproduce his work and for his wonderful contribution to our family history.
________________________________________________________________
Robert Malcolm Turner was born in Tumut in 1892. Robert enlisted in the AIF on 14th February 1916 at Casula, NSW. He was twenty-four years of age when he enlisted, single and living at Railway Street, Epping. He gave his occupation as a clerk, clerk by necessity, engineer by inclination. Robert’s nephew, John Chappell recalls that “in 1914 he spent a year on his Uncle Henry’s farm at Wingham sorting himself out and built a plane with his younger brother Clive on the farm “Allandale”.
Sadly no records can be found of the aircraft. That the mechanical arts held appeal for Robert may provide an explanation for his mother, Caroline, recording his occupation as a “motor expert” for the Australian War memorial Honour Roll details. It is likely that Robert tinkered on the aircraft’s engine.
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With no previous military experience, Robert enlisted into the 13th Battalion, 18th Reinforcements. After basic training Robert was sent to Alexandria (Egypt), departing Sydney on HMAT A46 “Clan MacGillivray” on the 3rd May 1916. The 13th Battalion was raised in New South Wales in September 1914. Along with the 14th, 15th and 16th Battalions it formed part of the Fourth Brigade commanded by General John Monash. The 13th Battalion had landed at Anzac Cove on 25th April 1915 and they were involved in the Attack on Hill 60 in August 1915. They remained fighting at Gallipoli until the withdrawal in December, after which the Battalion returned to Egypt. The 13th Battalion arrived in France in June 1916 and their first major action was during August 1916 at Pozieres in the Somme Valley. Robert left Alexandria bound for England on 5th August 1916 aboard H.T “Megantic”. On the 22nd September 1916 he left England for France, arriving at Etaples on 24th September 1916.
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 Boarding HMAT A46 “Clan MacGillivray” in Brisbane 1916 |
His training would likely have been brought up to speed here at the notorious training camp known as the “bull ring”, readying him to join his battalion. His service records indicate that on the 4th October 1916 the 13th Battalion took him on strength. There is little detail in Robert’s service record to create a clear picture of his time on the Western Front. The Battalion War diaries for October 1916 and November 1916 do allow us to follow his movements until his death.
The 13th Battalion War Diary for 4th October 1916 records that the Battalion was in the line at the St. Eloi sector. The previous days had been quiet; however between 5pm and 6pm that afternoon the Battalion was shelled and a trench raid carried out by the Germans upon the 16th Battalion on the 13th Battalion’s left. Two more quiet days followed until the Battalion moved to billets on the 7th October 1916. By the 8th October 1916 the Battalion was in training at Quebec Camp-Reninghelst. The Divisional Commander, General Sir H.V.Cox visited the Camp on the 11th October 1916 to present Military Medals to thirty-two men of the Battalion for bravery at Pozieres.
The 13th Battalion relieved the 1st Battalion on 12th October 1916 when they moved to Swan Chateau. They remained here until the 19th October 1916 as a reserve Battalion supplying fatigue parties to the frontline. They were relieved by the 7th Battalion London Regiment and returned back to Quebec Camp, where Capt. Harry Murray also rejoined the Battalion. Another move to billets took place on the 21st October 1916 when the Battalion moved to Steenvoorde. The following day the Battalion received sixty-seven other ranks as reinforcements from the 2nd Australian Division. Early in the morning of 26th October 1916 the Battalion marched to Caestre, where they entrained to Pont Remy. Arriving around 3pm that afternoon they then marched to billets at Vauchelles-Les-Quesnoy. Training and tactical exercises were carried out over the next few days. As November arrived the Battalion moved to billets at Villiers-Sous-Ailly on the 1st November 1916, and then to Belloy-Sur-Somme on 2nd November 1916. Brigade tactical exercises were held on 6th November 1916, including a repeat of the exercise at night. They remained at Belloy until the 8th November 1916 when they were moved to Ribemont by motorbuses.
Further training was carried out at Ribemont. On the 12th November 1916 ‘A’ and ‘B’ companies, of which Robert was in ‘B’, were moved to Willow Siding minus their Lewis gunners. The rest of the Battalion went into billets at Dernancourt on the 13th November 1916. The Battalion moved to Bernafay near Montauban on 14th November 1916, with ‘C’ and ‘D’ companies working fatigue duty on 15th November 1916. A move to New Carlton Camp occurred on the 23rd November 1916 (minus ’C’ company). The Battalion moved back into the front line on the 27th November 1916 at Guedecourt.
T.A White’s 13th Battalion history records:
“Bn Headquarters were in Possum Reserve just south of Guedecourt, ‘A’ in Grease Trench and Goodwin’s Post, and ‘B’ on its right. ‘A’ was in a specially dangerous position, its Goodwin’s Post being closely surrounded on three sides by enemy trenches and strongpoints. Here the Germans held a sharp and strong salient where Bayonet and Lard Trenches formed an apex. Being so dangerous it was naturally given to Capt Harry Murray, and within two days most splendid work was done in strengthening it from the enemy, and improving it for the accommodation of our men. ‘B’ Coy, facing the junction of Lard and Stormy Trenches, also did splendid work strengthening, improving, patrolling and worrying the enemy.”
Robert was serving in ‘B’ company on the 28th November 1916 when he was killed. Two other men, also serving in ‘B’ company, were also killed on that day. There is no mention of how they died in the Battalion war diary or the Battalion history, although the history does mention that there was shelling and sniping occurring at the time. Curiously no Red Cross reports exist verifying reports of the deaths of any of the three. The two other men killed were- 3820 Private Harry Jones, 22-year-old French polisher from Haberfield. 5200 Private Frederick Woodall, 32-year-old linesman from North Sydney. All three men were buried in the field. At a later date all were exhumed and moved to Bancourt British Cemetery.
Robert Malcolm Turner spent a total of fifty-five days on the Western Front. His death was reported in the Sydney morning Herald of Friday 22nd December 1916. The obituary also recorded that Robert had enlisted with nine of his “school chums” at the same time.
CJ Turner considered Robert’s loss as the greatest tragedy of his life. Consistent with many Australian families at the time, Robert’s death was dealt with in private with little mention of his name. His memory however has been carried on with the use of his names as second names within the family- Robert was succeeded by fourteen nieces and nephews.
The 13th Battalion War Diary for 4th October 1916 records that the Battalion was in the line at the St. Eloi sector. The previous days had been quiet; however between 5pm and 6pm that afternoon the Battalion was shelled and a trench raid carried out by the Germans upon the 16th Battalion on the 13th Battalion’s left. Two more quiet days followed until the Battalion moved to billets on the 7th October 1916. By the 8th October 1916 the Battalion was in training at Quebec Camp-Reninghelst. The Divisional Commander, General Sir H.V.Cox visited the Camp on the 11th October 1916 to present Military Medals to thirty-two men of the Battalion for bravery at Pozieres.
The 13th Battalion relieved the 1st Battalion on 12th October 1916 when they moved to Swan Chateau. They remained here until the 19th October 1916 as a reserve Battalion supplying fatigue parties to the frontline. They were relieved by the 7th Battalion London Regiment and returned back to Quebec Camp, where Capt. Harry Murray also rejoined the Battalion. Another move to billets took place on the 21st October 1916 when the Battalion moved to Steenvoorde. The following day the Battalion received sixty-seven other ranks as reinforcements from the 2nd Australian Division. Early in the morning of 26th October 1916 the Battalion marched to Caestre, where they entrained to Pont Remy. Arriving around 3pm that afternoon they then marched to billets at Vauchelles-Les-Quesnoy. Training and tactical exercises were carried out over the next few days. As November arrived the Battalion moved to billets at Villiers-Sous-Ailly on the 1st November 1916, and then to Belloy-Sur-Somme on 2nd November 1916. Brigade tactical exercises were held on 6th November 1916, including a repeat of the exercise at night. They remained at Belloy until the 8th November 1916 when they were moved to Ribemont by motorbuses.
Further training was carried out at Ribemont. On the 12th November 1916 ‘A’ and ‘B’ companies, of which Robert was in ‘B’, were moved to Willow Siding minus their Lewis gunners. The rest of the Battalion went into billets at Dernancourt on the 13th November 1916. The Battalion moved to Bernafay near Montauban on 14th November 1916, with ‘C’ and ‘D’ companies working fatigue duty on 15th November 1916. A move to New Carlton Camp occurred on the 23rd November 1916 (minus ’C’ company). The Battalion moved back into the front line on the 27th November 1916 at Guedecourt.
T.A White’s 13th Battalion history records:
“Bn Headquarters were in Possum Reserve just south of Guedecourt, ‘A’ in Grease Trench and Goodwin’s Post, and ‘B’ on its right. ‘A’ was in a specially dangerous position, its Goodwin’s Post being closely surrounded on three sides by enemy trenches and strongpoints. Here the Germans held a sharp and strong salient where Bayonet and Lard Trenches formed an apex. Being so dangerous it was naturally given to Capt Harry Murray, and within two days most splendid work was done in strengthening it from the enemy, and improving it for the accommodation of our men. ‘B’ Coy, facing the junction of Lard and Stormy Trenches, also did splendid work strengthening, improving, patrolling and worrying the enemy.”
Robert was serving in ‘B’ company on the 28th November 1916 when he was killed. Two other men, also serving in ‘B’ company, were also killed on that day. There is no mention of how they died in the Battalion war diary or the Battalion history, although the history does mention that there was shelling and sniping occurring at the time. Curiously no Red Cross reports exist verifying reports of the deaths of any of the three. The two other men killed were- 3820 Private Harry Jones, 22-year-old French polisher from Haberfield. 5200 Private Frederick Woodall, 32-year-old linesman from North Sydney. All three men were buried in the field. At a later date all were exhumed and moved to Bancourt British Cemetery.
Robert Malcolm Turner spent a total of fifty-five days on the Western Front. His death was reported in the Sydney morning Herald of Friday 22nd December 1916. The obituary also recorded that Robert had enlisted with nine of his “school chums” at the same time.
CJ Turner considered Robert’s loss as the greatest tragedy of his life. Consistent with many Australian families at the time, Robert’s death was dealt with in private with little mention of his name. His memory however has been carried on with the use of his names as second names within the family- Robert was succeeded by fourteen nieces and nephews.
Sydney Morning Herald
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Sources:
5794 Robert Malcolm Turner B2455 Service Record (Australian National Archives) AIF Unit War Diaries, 13th Infantry Battalion October & November 1916 (AWM) “The History of the Thirteenth Battalion A.I.F”, T.A White (1924) Correspondence with Mr John Chappell, great-nephew of Robert Malcolm Turner National Library Australia Archives- Sydney Morning Herald of Friday 22nd December 1916 RIGHT: Video shows photo of Robert in uniform, diggers boarding the ships that sailed from Sydney in 1916, and Roberts tombstone. |
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Acknowledgement: Many thanks to Scott Wilson for this valuable contribution to the history of CJ Turner, and for taking the time and interest in finding out about my great uncle Bob.
Scott is very interested in any information concerning any of the First World War soldiers listed on the Berowra Memorial. In particular two soldiers that later lived at Wharepaka - David Thornton McKean and William Charles Lailey. Please use the Contact Form on this site if you have any information or would like to contact Scott.
Scott is very interested in any information concerning any of the First World War soldiers listed on the Berowra Memorial. In particular two soldiers that later lived at Wharepaka - David Thornton McKean and William Charles Lailey. Please use the Contact Form on this site if you have any information or would like to contact Scott.
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