Selected Biographies

Turner, Alfred William – Born: Wickhambrook, Suffolk on 27.1.1881.[1]  Parents: Charles William Kiddy Turner of Wickenbrook, Suffolk (Agricultural Labourer) and Charlotte [née Avis] (Tailoress).  Home: Genesis Green, Wickhambrook, Suffolk (1891), Parsonage Farm, Long Melford (1911), Bixbys Yard, Westgate Street, Long Melford [1920 to 1952].  Occupation: Agricultural Labourer (1911), Bricklayer’s Labourer (1921), General Labourer (1939).  Married: Ellen Sansum of Long Melford in 1913.  Service Record: Alfred enlisted in 1904 as Gnr.33919 with the Royal Artillery, mobilized on 5.8.1914 to 146^th Battery, Royal Field Artillery and posted to France on 19.8.1914 with 42^nd Brigade, RFA.  With the end of the War his was sent to Salonika serving from January to May 1919 with 39^th Battery, RFA, receiving his discharge in March 1920.[2]  Died: Long Melford, Suffolk in 1952. 

Turner, Arthur James – Born: Sudbury, Suffolk in 1882.  Parents: William George Turner of Ballingdon, Essex (Foreman at George Whittle’s Coconut Matting Factory in Long Melford) and Susan [née] Barber] of Borley, Essex.  Family Connections: Brother to William George Stephen Turner [b1878].  Home: St Marys Street, Long Melford (1891), Guards Barracks, Chelsea, London (1901), 2 Chapel Green, Little St Marys, Long Melford (1911), 15 School Street, Sudbury, Suffolk [1914].  Occupation: Regular Soldier (1901), Steam Roller Driver (1911).  Married: Jessie Emma Fenton in 1910.  Service Record: Arthur enlisted in November 1900 as Pte.3984 with 3^rd Battalion, Coldstream Guards, being posted to South Africa and seeing action in Cape Colony during the Second Anglo-Boer War.  During the Great War he was posted to France, arriving on 26.8.1914 as part of 4^th [Guards] Brigade, 2^nd Division, seeing action at the Battles of the Marne and the Aisne in September.[3] Died: Guardsman Turner was listed as missing presumed killed in action near Polygon Wood to the east of Ypres, on 12.11.1914 and is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial [panel 11], Ypres, Belgium and the War Memorial in Long Melford.[4]

Turner, George Turner aka Otley – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk in 1831.[5] Parents: Maria Otley [nee Bird] (housekeeper to John Turner who was also his father).  Family Connections: Half-brother to Elijah Otley [b1824].  Home: Westgate Street, Long Melford (1841), Hall Street, Long Melford (1851).  Occupation: Hand-Loom Weaver at John Churchyard’s Horsehair Factory (1851).  Service Record:  George enlisted as a Private with N^o.1 Company, 11^th Battalion, Royal Artillery being posted to Balaklava during the Crimean War.  A letter to his parents, which was reprinted in the local paper, gives his graphic account of the operations around Sevastopol.[6]  Died: Sudbury, Suffolk in 1863.

Turner, William George Stephen – Born: Sudbury, Suffolk on 21.2.1878.[7]  Parents: William George Turner of Ballingdon, Essex (Foreman at George Whittle’s Coconut Matting Factory in Long Melford) and Susan [née] Barber] of Borley, Essex.  Family Connections: Brother to Arthur James Turner [b1882].  Home: Workhouse Row, Sudbury Suffolk (1881), St Marys Street, Long Melford (1891), lodging with James Bagley at 20 Tarn Street, Newington, London (1901), emigrated to Canada [1907], 8 Allendale Avenue, Hamilton, Ontario [1915], 219 Bellwoods Avenue, Toronto, Ontario [1918].  Occupation: Post Office Boy (1891), Tram Conductor (1901), Chemical Worker [1915].  Married: Esther Louisa Bobby in 1906.  Service Record: William enlisted on 20.8.1915 as Pte.193202 with 92^nd Battalion [48^th Highlanders], Canadian Expeditionary Force, posted to England on 20.5.1916, the unit providing reinforcements to the Canadian Divisions in France.  He was posted to the Western Front in March 1916, where he received a gunshot wound, the battalion however is not recorded.[8]  Died: British Columbia, Canada in 1948. 

Related Biography

Otley, Elijah – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk in 1824. Parents: William Otley [transported to Van Dieman’s Land in 1825] and Maria [née Bird].  Family Connections: Half-brother to George Turner Otley [b1831].  Home: The Green, Long Melford (1841).  Occupation: Agricultural Labourer (1841).  Partner: Matilda Palmer née Mitchell c1865.  Service Record: Elijah enlisted in 1842 as Pte.3248 with 94^th Regiment of Foot, being posted to India, transferring to 43^rd (Monmouthshire) Regiment of Foot, a light infantry unit in 1854, and taking part in the suppression of the Indian Mutiny of 1857/1858.  He was discharged in 1862 due to a medical disability and returned to England.[9]  Died: Long Melford, Suffolk on 6.7.1867.[10]

Notes – [1] 1939 Register.  [2] Soldiers’ Documents, First World War ‘Burnt Documents’ [WO 363], Service Medal and Award Rolls 1914-1918 [WO 329] and Service Medal, and Award Rolls Index Cards 1914-1922 [WO 372].  [3] For details of his battalion’s movements see War Diary [WO 95/1342/3].  See also his Service Medal and Award Rolls 1914-1918 [WO 329] and Service Medal and Award Rolls Index Cards 1914-1922 [WO 372].  [4] Commonwealth War Grave Commission record and British Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, 1901-1929 [ref: 254718].  [5] Baptism Record of 19.11.1844 for Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford.  [6] The Bury and Norwich Post and Suffolk Herald 12.9.1855, reprinted in Long Melford Historical and Archaeological Society Newsletter September 1992.  [7] Date of birth taken from his Attestation Papers.  [8] Canadian Service Record see Library and Archives of Canada [ref: RG150/281866].  [9] Royal Hospital, Chelsea: Regimental Registers of Pensioners, 1713-1882 [WO 97/1523].  [10] National Probate Calendar.