Photo: Geordie at War Project

Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-

Alexander Bennett Turner was the youngest of 5 known children, 3 sons and 2 daughters. His father Alexander Turner Snr born April 29th 1849 at Jarrow, historically County Durham, a cartman, married November 9th 1873 at St. John Newcastle-upon-Tyne to Margaret Battersley Bennett, born May 18th 1853 at 55, Lambton Court, Prudhoe Street, Newcastle, daughter of shoe maker Alexander Bennett. In 1881 they were living in a tenement building at 50, Buckingham Street, Westgate, shared by them and their children George born 1875, James 1877, Ann 1879 and new born Isabella 1881, with in-laws Alexander and Isabella Bennett, daughter Ann, boarder Ralph Hill, also the Robson family, 2 adults and 2 children and the Walker family, 2 adults and 6 children. Alexander Snr supported his family employed as a drayman at one of the many brewers, approximately 34, that existed in Newcastle at the time. Alexander Bennett Turner was born December 4th 1884 at 44, Buckingham Street, his father died March 16th 1885 when he was little more than 3 months old, the eldest of his siblings only 10 years of age. His mother remarried in 1889 to George Fulthorpe, born at Newcastle in 1863, almost ten years her junior, a tinsmith. They moved to a tenement building at 35, Oystershell Lane, in the census of 1901 Margaret’s children are listed under the surname of Fulthorpe, by then they had moved to Diana Street and taken in a boarder, 23-year-old Thomas Mowbray, general labourer.

Alexander had left home in 1909 after he was married at St. Mary Catholic Cathedral, Clayton Street, Newcastle, March 3rd 1909, to Mary Annie Callan born 1887 at Gateshead, the daughter of Irish immigrants William and Mary Ann Callan. They settled at 22, Oakes Place, Westgate, Alexander was a steel plater’s helper, their daughter Lilian was born December 28th 1913 at 5, Dorothy Street, Gateshead where they then lived.

On the outbreak of war Alexander enlisted at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, May 17th 1915, assigned as Private 3259 to the Northumberland Fusiliers stating he had previously served with and had been discharged from the West Yorkshire Regiment. He remained at the N.F. Depot until he was posted to the 32nd (Reserve) Battalion, June 8th 1915, joining them at Usworth, near Washington, County Durham. After a period of training he underwent medical examination by the Medical Board, January 27th 1916. He was discharged, February 4th 1916, as medically unfit, having been found to have defective vision, “R Eye 6/60 L Eye 6/60. He is unable to shoot properly. Not the result of service. Capacity lessened 1/4 permanently.”

Alexander Turner returned to his home and employment, unfortunately he died aged only 33 years of age, April 12th 1917 at Westgate Hospital, run by the Newcastle-upon-Tyne Poor Law Union. He was interred at Gateshead East Cemetery, County Durham, with full military honours, grave reference M1109. His widow commissioned at a cost of 11 shillings 11 pence an additional inscription to be added to his military headstone, it reads, “On Whose Soul Sweet Jesus Have Mercy Rest In Peace.”

Mary Annie remarried 8 months later at St Joseph Gateshead, December 12th 1917 to Alexander Hamilton born 1895 originally from Carlisle, Cumberland. Alexander Hamilton died March 23rd 1961 aged 66 years, his death preceded that of Mary Annie Hamilton-Turner nee Callan who died less than 8 months later, November 17th 1961 aged 73 years, both deaths registered in the district of Northumberland.

Alexander and Mary Annie’s daughter Lilian Turner married at St. Joseph Gateshead, September 30th 1930 to Albert Robinson born 1903. Lilian Robinson nee Turner died aged 73 years, November 9th 1987 at the Freeman Hospital, Newcastle, the death of Albert had preceded that of her own in 1964 aged 61 years.

In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.

He does not seem to remembered on a local War Memorial.

The CWGC entry for Private Turner