William Frederick Turner
A Rifleman with 2/17th Bn., William died on 7th of August 1916 at the age of 22.
William was born at Lowestoft in 1893, a son of William and Eliza Turner. In 1901 his family lived at 23 Chapel Street, Lowestoft. By 1911 they were living at 3 Barrett's Yard, High Street, Lowestoft, and William was a fish worker in the herring fishing business.
William enlisted in the Army at Saxmundham. Initially he joined the 6th (Cyclist) Battalion Suffolk Regiment, service number 4194. William was transferred to the London Regiment and he arrived in France on 24 June 1916 to join the 2/17th Battalion. On 3 August 1916 the Battalion took up positions in trenches near Neuville St. Vaast. The Battalion War Diary for 7 August 1916 has:
Quiet day in trenches. Our patrols were again active during the night and secured useful information. Our snipers claimed two hits. Usual activity with trench mortars, 'oil cans', 'fears', and rifle grenades.
The War Diary does not mention any casualties on 7 August, but both William, and Charles Kent, also from Lowestoft, were both killed in action that day. Both William and Charles had served in the 6th Battalion Suffolk Regiment and they both joined the 2/17th Battalion on 24 June 1916.
A brief note in the East Anglian Daily Times, 21 August 1916, page 6, states that William was 'killed by a shell, together with his chum, Charles Kent.'
William and Charles are buried next to each other at Ecoivres Military Cemetery.
William Turner
3 Barratt's Yard
High Street
Lowestoft
United Kingdom
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