Military History

Embarked Fremantle per HMAT ‘Seang Bee’ 13.7.1916 for UK.
Roll Rank Private. 3rd Reinf.
Roll Unit 51st Battalion, AIF.
Turner disembarked at Plymouth UK 9.9.1916. He marched in to the 13th Training Bn. at Codford. After a period of intensive training, he proceeded overseas to France per ‘SS ‘Princess Henrietta‘, from Folkestone 28.10.1916. Turner marched in and was taken on with 4th Australian Bde. Base Depot (ADBD) at Etaples 30.11.1916. He was taken on strength with 51st Bn, 15.12.1916. The 51st Bn. endured a harsh winter in the front lines on the Somme. Turner was sent to hospital sick with septic feet in France 15.4.1917. He rejoined his unit 19.9.1917 and fought at Polygon Wood in September and was Wounded in Action in the Field in the Somme Valley-GSW hand and mouth 12.10.1917. Turner was taken to the  3rd Australian Field Ambulance Station 12.10.1917. He was admitted to 7th Casualty Clearing Station 13.10.1917 and embarked for the UK per HS ‘Gratuity Castle’ 16.10.1917. (Reported in West Australian  29.11.1917) He was admitted to the Cheltenham Voluntary Aid Detachment Hospital 17.10.1917. Turner was transferred to 3rd Auxiliary Hospital at Dartford 3.1.1918. On recovery, he marched in to No.2 Commonwealth Depot, Weymouth 2.2.1918 and listed for return to Australia.
Embarked for Australia per HMAT A30 ‘Borda’ 5.4.1918.
Returned/Disembarked Fremantle 22.5.1918.
Discharged 19.11.1918.
Final Rank Private 51st Bn. AIF.
Medical Condition Invalided, GSW to mouth and left hand.
Awards and Medals British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Notes 9 Ethel St, Guildford, WA had been his family home
Photo  HMAT 'Seang Bee'. Photographer unknown, photograph source John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland Image no. 82596
            ' Winter in Albert on the Somme'. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM E00166
            'Polygon Wood'. Photographer uknown, photograph source AWM E00783A
           '3rd Auxilliary Hospital, Dartford, Kent.UK'. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM C01233

Information Source
AWM E00166. 'Winter in Albert on the Somme'. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM E00783A 'Polygon Wood'. Photographer uknown, photograph source Pictorial Collection Australian War Memorial
AWM C01233. '3rd Auxilliary Hospital, Dartford, Kent.UK'. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Austraklian War Memorial     
AWM Embarkation Roll Arthur Henry Turner
John Oxley Library, image no. 82596. HMAT 'Seang Bee'. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the State Library of Queensland
NAA: B2455, Turner A H
West Australian
Wise H. and Coy. Western Australian Post Office Directories. SLWA

9 Ethel Street, Guildford, WA.

Associated Images