Illustrated Chronicle 1915
Heslop’s Local Advertiser 21/05/1915
Heworth Cemetery
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Robert Turner was born in 1894 at Heworth near Gateshead, County Durham, the son of Robert and Mary Ann Turner. He married at Gateshead in 1914 to Margaret F Bowman.
He enlisted in 1914 at Felling, Gateshead and was assigned as Private 1401 to the 9th Battalion Durham Light Infantry, a Territorial Force. The battalion after spending a few weeks digging trenches at South Shields moved to Boldon Colliery in early August then on to Ravensworth Park and returned to Newcastle-upon-Tyne by October 1914.
When the 9th Battalion departed for the Western Front Robert’s wife was pregnant with their first child. The battalion left Newcastle railway station for Folkestone landing at Boulogne April 17th 1915. Within days without any nursery training they were fighting in the Second Battle of Ypres, April 22nd-May 25th 1915, where they suffered heavy casualties from shelling and gas attacks on the Frezenberg and Bellewaarde ridges.
Within a matter of a few weeks Private Turner was severely wounded, evacuated through the lines and shipped back to England for treatment, finally arriving at Holt Auxiliary Hospital, Liverpool, Lancashire. Mr & Mrs Richard D Holt in October 1914 had vacated their home and equipped it at their own expense for an auxiliary hospital covering all running costs for the duration of its use.
Due to the nature of muddy battlefields and front line hospital conditions the open wound/s sustained by Robert to his hand became infected. Private 9/1401 Robert Turner Durham Light Infantry died of tetanus at Holt Auxiliary Hospital, May 6th 1915. At the request of his family his body was brought home to Heworth, this would have been organised by the Army but the family would have paid the costs. His funeral at the time was described as one of the largest and most impressive on record with crowds lining the route and the churchyard. Private Robert Turner Turner was interred at Heworth St. Mary Churchyard, south east part, he was 21 years old.
Any money due to Private Turner was assigned to his father-in-law William Bowman. His widow received a pension and his awards of the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to her at Carlisle Street, Felling, Gateshead, County Durham.
The hardship of losing her husband was to be followed by another tragedy for Margaret. She gave birth to their child, December 1915, a girl who was named Margaret F. J. Turner, the child only survived a short time and also died in December 1915.
Margaret F. Turner remarried in the district of Sunderland during the 2nd quarter (Apr/May/Jun) 1916 Robert Kitchen. Details of demise unknown.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Heslop’s Local Advertiser 21/05/1915 carries an In Memoriam notice which reads:
“Robert Turner, of Carlisle Street, Felling, on 6th May, aged 21 years, of the 9th Battalion Durham Light Infantry. Husband of Margaret Turner and son of Robert and the late Mary Ann Turner. Interred at Heworth.”
He is remembered at Heworth on H92.03
He is also remembered in The DLI Book of Remembrance page 110
