In Bailleul Communal Cemetery extension, France is the Commonwealth War Grave of 2521 Private Arthur Turner, serving with the 1/5th Battalion Durham Light Infantry who died 05/11/1915.

Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-

Arthur Turner was the eldest of his 5 siblings of whom only 4 survived. His family originated from the large village of Cawood, formally a market town, parish of Selby, historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire. 

His father Joseph Turner Snr, born in 1842, was a farmer living at Water Row in 1871 with his widowed aunt Mary Turner (57). He was married in 1878 to Jane Pilkington who sadly died in 1879, she was 37 years of age. By 1881 Joseph, was the owner of 13 acres of land and a house at Water Row, living with him was his married sister, Jane Priestly, listed as a domestic servant.

He was married for a second time in the district of Burnley during the 4th quarter (Oct/Nov/Dec) 1886 to local girl Ellen Robinson born in 1858, 15 years his junior. Ellen had given birth to Arthur out of wedlock, during the 2nd quarter (Apr/May/June) 1886, registered under the surname Turner. Within 5 years they had a further 2 children, Jessie and Mary Ellen were born in 1887 and 1889 respectively, followed by Annie in 1892 and Joseph in 1896.

Joseph Turner Snr died during the 2nd quarter (July/Aug/Sep) 1900, his widow Ellen managed to continue running the farm. Arthur (14) is listed as a pupil teacher, his remaining siblings although of school age were not listed as scholars. The Turners had also taken into their home, Caroline Gertrude Stamp and her 2 children, Percy (12) and Constance (5). 

Tragedy befell the family once again when Mary Ellen Turner (14) died in 1903. 

By 1911 Ellen had retired, her son Joseph (15) employed as a farm worker, supported his mother and sister Jessie (23). Arthur was a student teacher at St. John’s College, York, and once qualified he applied for a post in Coxhoe, County Durham, employed by the County Council. 

In 1911 he was one of 2 boarders at 6, Co-operative Terrace, Coxhoe, the home of Mary Elizabeth Carr-Morcom nee Higgins and her 4 children from her previous marriage. Arthur Turner and boarder George McPherson were not only work colleagues at Coxhoe Church of England School, they became firm friends, both were members of the local football and cricket teams and the Coxhoe Rifle Club.

When war was declared with Germany, August 4th 1914, neither Arthur or George were under any obligation to enlist as their profession was considered a reserve occupation however they were amongst the first to enlist, September 2nd 1914, at Stockton upon Tees. 

Assigned to the Durham Light Infantry as Private 2521, Arthur was posted to the 1st/5th Battalion of the Territorial Forces. The Territorial Force initially consisted of the 1st and 2nd Line but extended to a 3rd Line as the war progressed. Men of the 1st Line were those who had volunteered to serve overseas.

The 1st/5th D.L.I. moved from Stockton on Tees to Hartlepool, August 10th 1914, as part of the coastal defences, then moved to Ravensworth before arriving at Newcastle upon Tyne, by October 1914. Training complete, April 17th 1915, Private Turner departed with his regiment from Folkestone to France, disembarking at Boulogne. 

The battalion was attached to the 150th Northumberland Brigade, 50th Northumbrian Division and rushed across France to Belgium. Still very green and without any nursery training in trench warfare, within days the men were fighting for their lives during the 2nd Battle of Ypres, which raged from April 22nd-May 25th 1915 .Heavy casualties were sustained particularly at St. Julien and Frezenberg Ridge, during this period Private Turner was wounded.

The 1/5th Battalion spent the winter of 1915 in the trenches of the Ypres salient at Armentieres and Kemmel. Wounded in the line of duty Private Turner was evacuated back through the lines by the Field Ambulance. He was admitted to the 3rd Casualty Clearing Station at Bailleul, an important railhead and hospital centre, “home,” to the  British 2nd, 3rd, 8th, 11th, 53rd, 1st Canadian and 1st Australian CCSs. 

Private 2521 Arthur Turner succumbed to wounds sustained, November 5th 1915 and is at rest within Bailleul Communal Cemetery Nord, France, grave I. F. 189,  some 14 kilometres from the front line in Ypres, Belgium. Awards 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.

Private 2521 Arthur Turner was 29 years of age and single. All monies due to him from the Army, as per his wishes, were to be distributed to his mother Ellen, sisters Jessie and Annie and his brother Joseph. 

Joseph Turner at the time of his brother’s death was on active service as Private 16930 1st Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers and gave orders that his share should in turn be split between his sisters, possibly fearing that he too may not survive the conflict. His worst fears were to come to pass when he was killed in action, July 14th 1916, on the Somme, France. Private `Joseph Turner has no known grave, his sacrifice is recorded as one of over 72,000 names inscribed on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, Thiepval, France. Joseph Turner was one of 200 men from the village of Cawood who went to war, of whom 28 died.

Private Arthur Turner’s name not only appears on memorials in his adoptive home of Coxhoe but also on a brass plaque commemorating the alumni of St. John’s College, York, who paid the ultimate sacrifice during WW1 1914-1918. The plaque is located within the college chapel and is on permanent display.

In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace. 

Arthur Turner is remembered at Coxhoe on C103.01, C103.02, in C103.08 and C103.12, in the 5th D.L.I. Roll of Honour page  24, in the D.L.I. Book of Remembrance page 306 and in the Battalion History page 211.