Poppy In memoriam Poppy

Private Clement Douglas Turner

 

Turner 4

 

 

Clement Douglas Turner was born at Longford, County Longford, on 2 March 1897, youngest child of newspaper proprietor (Longford Independent and Westmeath Advertiser) Robert James Turner, and his wife Annabella Turner (nee Irvine).

He was educated at the King's Hospital School, Dublin before being employed as a clerk at the Belfast branch of the Bank of Ireland.

Turner enlisted in the North Irish Horse at Antrim between 25 and 27 November 1915 (No.1978). He embarked for France in November 1916 and was posted to the 1st North Irish Horse Regiment.

On 20 July 1917 a party from the regiment came under German shellfire near Ypres. Turner was hit by shrapnel and died later that day. His family received letters from his officers and comrades, containing the familiar expressions of comfort:

He was the youngest in his squadron, and a good boy.
His death cast a gloom over us all. He was beloved by all, and was killed instantaneously when going to help another.
… he was such a decent chap and so bright, and he would not offend a child.
He was one of the best – a brave boy. He died a glorious death, and you ought to be proud of him.

Turner was buried at Vlamertinghe New Military Cemetery, Iepers, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium, grave II.F.2. The gravestone inscription reads:

1978 PRIVATE
C. D. TURNER
NORTH IRISH HORSE
20TH JULY 1917

 

His name is included on the Bank of Ireland's Roll of Honour and Memorial Plaque (see images below).

 

CD Turner 6

 

Turner 3

 

Bank of Ireland Memorial Plaque

 

Bank of Ireland Roll of Honour

 

By sad chance another North Irish Horseman with the same surname, Stewart Lyttle Turner, was killed on the same day. The two men are buried side-by-side.

 

Images of gravestones and plaque from Bank of Ireland, Dublin, Copyright © Phillip Tardif with all rights reserved as set out in this Use of Material policy. Image 3 from the Belfast Evening Telegraph, kindly provided by Nigel Henderson (see Fitzroy Presbyterian Church: Wartime Service and Sacrifice). Images 1 and 4 sourced from De Ruvignys Roll of Honour, Vol.4. Bank of Ireland Roll of Honour image sourced from the Irish War Memorials site.

 

This page last updated 20 March 2024.