George Turner was born at Chailey around 1897.  He appears on the 1901 census as a three year old living at McQueen’s Cottage, Chailey with his family.  The household comprised Thomas Turner (head, married, aged 41, working as a gardener), his wife Jane Turner (aged 39) and their three children: Harriet Turner (aged 12), Thomas Turner (aged eight) and George (aged three).

 

Soldiers Died in the Great War (SD) states that George Turner was born at Lewes and enlisted at Brighton.  Chailey Parish Magazine first notes him serving his King and Country in July 1915 and by October that year is reporting that he is with the 3rd Royal Sussex.  In April 1916 it notes him as serving with the 3rd Royal Sussex in France.  This is obviously incorrect as the 3rd Battalion was the reserve battalion based in England.

 

In August 1916 the magazine notes that George Turner has been wounded and then, the following month, that he died of wounds on 24th August.  SD and The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) both confirm that he died of wounds but give his date of death as 23rd August.  He was 19 years old.  CWGC additionally notes that he was 10749 Private George Turner of the 9th Royal Sussex Regiment who was the son of Mr and Mrs Turner of 19 Stoneham Road, Hove, Sussex; late of Chailey, Sussex.

 

George Turner is buried in Corbie Communal Cemetery Extension, France: plot 2, row B, grave 92.  His brother Thomas Turner also served during the First World War.

 

 

Sources and Acknowledgements

 

• 1901 Census of England and Wales
• Soldiers Died in The Great War
• The Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s Debt of Honour Register
• Chailey Parish Magazine
• Thanks to Chris Collier and Jon Miller for visiting Corbie and taking photos of George Turner's grave.  I have used one of the photos taken by Jon Miller on this page