In Dantzig Alley British Cemetery, Mametz, France is the Commonwealth War Grave of 2nd Lieutenant Edmund Sanctuary Turner serving with the 116th Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery who died 01/08/1916.

Edmund Sanctuary Turner was the 3rd and youngest of the late Reverend William Turner, Vicar of Blacktoft, York, and his wife, Harriet (13 Woodlands Terrace, Aske Road, Redcar), daughter of the late Francis Swales, of Ripon.

Edmund was educated at St John’s School, Leatherhead, and Durham University, and became an Assistant Master at Darlington Grammar School.

He enlisted in the Royal Field Artillery in August 1914 and served with the Expeditionary Force in France. Promoted Corporal, then gazetted a 2nd Lieutenant Royal Garrison Artillery on the 25th September 1915.

After a period of training at home he returned to France. He was killed on the 1st August 1916, killed in action whilst making his way up to his battery Observation post.

Note: His date of death is stated as the 21st September in de Ruvigny’s.

Major J. Samuels wrote:- “I was Commanding Officer of Lieutenant Turner from the time he was commissioned in the 3/1 Welsh R.G.A. until he was sent to the front. May I record that he was a pattern officer and beloved by his brother officers and men, and his untimely death is deeply regretted by us all.”

Source: De Ruvigny Roll of Honour

Edmund Sanctuary Turner is remembered at Darlington on D40.021 and in D40.067