Charles Turner 1893 – 1917. Died aged 24
Charles was born to Abraham and Sarah, a Wokingham family who, by 1911 were living in Queens Terrace, just off Rose Street (and now the Marks and Spencer area). It was a large family of six brothers and four sisters, but before the war were employed in various jobs, his father a carter and he, Charles, a plumbers mate. His older brother Arthur had already been lost in 1914 and it was likely that Charles would have waited until conscription had been introduced in early 1916 and joined the Worcesters, who by now were calling upon anyone spread around the country to increase their fast depleting ranks.
Photograph by S Huxford, 2011
We are not clear on the circumstances of Charles’s death, but we know the 14th had been engaged the day before his death on the 24th April 1917:
‘During the battle on April 23rd the 14th Worcestershire had been employed near Gavrelle. That village had been attacked and captured early in the morning by the 63rd Division. “C” Company of the Battalion was sent forward in two detachments to assist in the consolidation of the front line. After many adventures across the battle-field under heavy shell-fire, the two detachments of Pioneers returned to their resting places early next morning (April 24th). From shell-fire during the day, the two Pioneer detachments lost one officer (Lieut. H. L. Sheen) and three men wounded’.
Gavrelle is not far from St Catherine Cemetary, the place of Charles’s burial. Although we have found no record of a marriage, it is likely he had a ‘sweetheart’ as a Gladys is mentioned on his headstone, along with his parents and siblings
War Graves Information:
Name:TURNER, CHARLES Initials:C
Rank:Private
Regiment/Service:Worcestershire Regiment
Unit Text:14th Bn.
Age:24
Date of Death:24/04/1917
Service No:29406
Additional information:Son of Abraham and Sarah Turner, of 65, Langborough Rd., Wokingham, Berks.
Casualty Type:Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference:B. 18.Cemetery:STE. CATHERINE BRITISH CEMETERY
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