In Firedamp (Le Va; Aux Clercs) Communal Cemetery, Seine Maritime, France is the Commonwealth War Grave of Master William Turnbull serving on S.S. Addington with the Mercantile Marine who died 16/03/1917.
He was the husband of Joanna Turnbull, of 35, Hastings St., Sunderland.
Pauline Priano has submitted the following;
William Turnbull was one of 3 known children, offspring of Master Mariner Robert Turnbull and his wife Ann ( possibly Carr), both of whom were born at Berwick upon Tweed, in 1828 and 1831 respectively.
Their daughter Ann Turnbull was born at Berwick in 1856 as was William in 1859 where he was baptised, December 4th 1859. Two years later the Turnbull family had transferred to Sunderland, historically in County Durham, and were living at 98, Dame Dorothy Street. Robert Turnbull Jnr in 1861 was ashore and 1866 had fathered a third child, Mary Jane.
Robert Turnbull Snr spent most of his life at sea. In 1871 his wife and children, all of whom were scholars, were living in the home of retired master mariner John Smith at 48, Henry Street, Sunderland.
Further details of the Turnbull family are scarce, however it is confirmed Robert Turnbull died, February 4th 1901 and was buried within Bishopwearmouth Cemetery, February 6th. After Robert’s demise his widow Ann went to live at 19, Derby Street, Sunderland with her daughter Mary Jane who was married to William Purvis and had two children, Winifred (14) and Robert (11).
William Turnbull Jnr had followed in his father’s footsteps and gone to sea. He had obtained a Certificate of Competence as 2nd Mate, November 1st 1880,1st Mate June 2nd 1830 and Master, July 11th 1885, in the Merchant Service.
William Turnbull was married in Scotland, in 1887, to Joanna Amelia Garden, who was born, July 25th 1865 at Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland. They had 7 children of whom only 6 had survived by 1911. Their daughter Amelia Victoria was born in Scotland in 1888 as were Joanna, July 23rd 1890 and Ann Rutherford Turnbull affectionately known as Annie, March 4th 1893. Mary Jane known affectionately as Jeannie was born at Bedlington in 1897, Robert William and Elspeth Garden Turnbull at Sunderland in 1900 and October 23rd 1902 respectively.
In 1901 Joanna and her children were living at 8, Ward Street, Sunderland, Historically in County Durham. Her husband was at sea but November 30th 1901 signed up to serve as 1st Mate aboard the Seaham Harbour, then joined as 1st Mate in 1911 the S.S. Norwood (London), a cargo ship built by Hall, Russell & Co., Aberdeen. His wife Joanna was also on board on the eve of the census as a visitor as was the wife of Master W. A. Pick and 1st Engineer Fred J. Millican.
William Turnbull was Master of the Simonside when the vessel was wrecked striking off the Southampton Reef of Concepcion Island in the Bahamas. At the inquiry the court completely exonerated Master William Turnbull from all blame. Master Mariner William Turnbull was also a member of the British Shipmasters and Officers Protection Society.
During WW1 he served as Master of the S.S. Addington, engaged in Admiralty work. Master William Turnbull resident of 35, Hastings Street, Hendon, Sunderland, died March 16th 1917 in hospital at Fécamp, a fishing port , Seine-Maritime, Normandy, France. The cause of death is listed as, “overdose of laudanum.”
Master William Turnbull, Mercantile Marine, is at rest within Fécamp (Le Val Aux Clercs) Communal Cemetery, Row 6 grave 8. One of 21 burials from WW1 all Merchant Seamen. He was 59 years of age. Awards; Mercantile Marine Medal.
His widow Joanna of the aforementioned address, commissioned at a cost of 14 shillings 7 pence, an additional inscription to be added to her late husbands military headstone it reads; “IN LOVING MEMORY DEARLY BELOVED HUSBAND OF JOANNA TURNBULL.”
Joanna Turnbull in 1921 was still living at Hastings Street tending to home duties. Mary Jane/Jeannie (24) was employed as a shorthand typist by H. Binns Sons & Company Ltd., drapers, as was Elspeth (18) as a clerk, Robert William (21) had been employed by Richardson West Garthole Scottie Engine Works but was out of work. Her daughter Joanna (30) who was married to Francis Edwin Sewell, was also in the household with her daughter Joanna Harriet not yet 1 year old, as a visitor. Her husband, a brewer’s clerk, employed by Warwicks & Richardson Limited on the eve of the census was visiting his parents, Samuel and Harriet Mary Maria Sewell, at their home in Blyth, Rotherham, Nottinghamshire.
Joanna Turnbull (80) died in 1946 at Sunderland in County Durham until 1974.
Further details of William and Joanna’s children;
Amelia Turnbull did not marry, she died at Sunderland in 1948.
Joanna Sewell nee Turnbull in 1939 was living at 40, Carlton Road, Newark, Nottinghamshire, with her husband. She and Francis had 4 children. Joanna Sewell nee Turnbull died in 1966, Francis Edwin Sewell, March 16th 1970 both registered at Newark.
Annie Turnbull was married to Thomas Adie Hunter in 1920 with whom she had 4 children. Her husband died, March 3rd 1971, Ann Rutherford/Annie Hunter nee Turnbull in 1991, both registered at Derby, Derbyshire.
Jeannie Turnbull, further details unknown.
Robert William Turnbull, further details unknown.
Elspeth Garden Turnbull was married to John George Rowe at Sunderland in 1930 with whom she had 1 known child. Her husband, who was a mariner and served during WW2 with the Merchant Navy, died in 1984. Elspeth Garden Rowe nee Turnbull in 2004 both registered at Sunderland, Tyne & Wear since 1974.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
William Turnbull is remembered at Sunderland in S140.48 Part 8 page 179 and in our List of Ships’ Crews.
