Military History

Turner enlisted aged 16 years and 2 months 7.12.1914 and was place with the Depot Coy. He was under age and his enlistment date was crossed out. He re- enlisted four months later at Rockingham 3.4.1915, although still underage, he had his parents permission and was taken into the 11th Bn. as one of their two buglers. He was placed with the 4th Reinf. of the 11th Bn. at Blackboy Hill 16.4.1915.
Embarked Fremantle per HMAT ‘Argyllshire’ A8 for Egypt 19.4.1915.
Roll Rank Private/ Bugler.
Roll Unit 11th Battalion, 4th Reinf, AIF.
Turner disembarked at Suez with the 4th Reinf. 11th Bn. He joined ‘B’ Coy. and was taken on strength with11th Bn. 4.6.1915. Turner was reprimanded for ‘neglecting to obey an order’ 16.6.1918. After a period of intensive training, he proceeded to Alexandria and joined the MEF. Turner embarked for Gallipoli. He was admitted to hospital at Gallipoli 20.8.1915 with a debility and an abscess to his right foot. He was transported to hospital at Malta, then invalided to England, per HS ‘Caledonia’ 15.8.1915. Turner was admitted to the City of London Military Hospital 15.9.1915 and rested at the Woodcote Park Convalescent Hospital, Epsom 21.10.1915. On recovery, he embarked at Weymouth to join the BEF in France 7.6.1916. Turner joined the Base Depot 8.6.1916. Then was taken on Strength with his Bn. 1.7.1916. He participated in the Bns.’ first major battle at Pozieres in July 1916. This was a terribly stressful event for Turner, who was hospitalized with weakness and debility (shellshock, dilated heart, anaemia). He embarked at Boulogne per HS ‘Jan Breydal’ for England 9.7.1916. Turner was admitted to the Scottish Pensioner Hospital at Aberdeen – where he was described as underage and suffering from a debility. (nervousness). He was discharged from Hospital 29.8.1916 and listed for early return to Australia with Disordered Action of the Heart (DAH).
Embarked Portland per ‘Ajana’, for a change’ 17.10.1916 .
Returned/Disembarked Fremantle 30.11.1916.
Discharged 28.3.1917.
To No. 8 AGH Base Hospital Fremantle with shellshock. Returned to Unit 89A in WA.
Final Rank Bugler, 11th Bn. AIF.
Medical Condition Invalided, Shell Shock, dilated heart and anaemia, DAH.
Awards and Medals 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Photos HMAT 'Argyllshire' 1914-15. Postcard by Geyer Studio NSW, Photograph source AWM P10581.002
           Troops being towed ashore at Gallipoli April 1915. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM A02781
           Pozieres Battlefield 1916. Photographer unknown, photograph source  AWM E05391

Information Source
AWM P10581.002. HMAT 'Argyllshire' 1914-15. Postcard by Geyer Studio NSW, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM A02781. Troops being towed ashore at Gallipoli April 1915. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM E05391. Pozieres Battlefield 1916. Photgrapher unknown, Photograph source  AWM E05391, https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/E05391/
AWM Embarkation Roll Arthur George Turner
Guildford War Memorial
NAA: B2455, Turner A G
St Matthew’s Honour Roll
Wesley Chapel

‘Ballajora’, Caversham, WA.

Associated Images