Born on 23rd October 1898 at Lee in Kent, son of George (Coachman) and Ellen Turner of Willow Cottage Hampton Road, Twickenham. 1901: With his family at 15 Hamilton Road, South Wimbledon, his father being described as a Stableman/Groom. 1911: The family had moved to 14 Colbrook Road, Walthamstow, and young George was a Scholar. By 1917 the family home was at 5 Florence Terrace, Maybank Road, South Woodford, later 162 Maybank Road.
Having enlisted at West Ham in the middle of 1916, George initially served as Private 5294 with the Essex Regiment, before transferring to 1/4 Northamptonshire Regiment.
The Battle of Sharon lasted from 19/25 September 1918. When it began the Northamptonshires were located at Mejdal Yaba. It was intended that the initial British assault would pass through the Northamptonshires and capture Kefr Kassim. When that initial wave had reached the Wadi Kanah, the Northamptonshires would then turn east and destroy/disrupt enemy communications.
The initial attack was a success with the Turks falling back and Kefr Kassim was captured. However the Turks had regrouped and launched a strong counter attack which forced the initial British attackers to withdraw. 4 Northamptonshires were ordered to confront the advancing Turks and did do, reversing their counter attack while under a barrage of 5.9 inch Turkish artillery, and going on to re-occupy their positions. They also took 12 Turkish Officers and 115 Other Ranks prisoner. However once they occupied the Turkish positions they were subjected to Turkish shell and sniper fire.
During the initial day of the battle, George Turner was Killed in Action.
Research by Adrian Lee, Local Historian
Sources:
Ancestry.com