Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of John Herbert Turner, a carpenter, born in the July quarter of 1856 in Exton, Rutland and baptised on the 26th September 1856 in the Church of SS. Peter & Paul, Exton (son of William Turner, 1810-1871 and Rachel Coles, 1821) and his wife Emma Turner (nee Fisher, married in the October quarter of 1876 in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire), born in the April quarter of 1859 in Melton Mowbray and baptised on the 11th November 1860 in St. Mary’s Church, Melton Mowbray (daughter of Joseph Fisher, 1826-1900 and Sarah Rippin, 1827-1868). Reginald Louis was born in the October quarter of 1895 in Exton, Rutland, his siblings were, Edith Mary, a milliner, born in the July quarter of 1877, Louisa Emma, a sewing maid, born in the January quarter of 1879, John William, a bricklayer’s labourer, born in the April quarter of 1880, Joseph Arthur, a brickyard labourer, born in the January quarter of 1882, Herbert, a brick carter, born on the 11th August 1883, Thomas Henry, a brickyard labourer, born on the 5th January 1885, Christiana Ana, born in the October quarter of 1888, Alfred Ernest, born in the January quarter of 1892, Agnes Clare, born in the October quarter of 1896 and Gertrude Rachel, born in the October quarter of 1898, the latter ten siblings were all born in Exton and Leonard, born in the January quarter of 1901 in Woodstone, Huntingdonshire, in March 1901 the family home was at 101, Belsize Avenue, Woodstone, Huntingdonshire. In April 1911 Reginald was employed as a shoe trade clicker and was residing in the family home at 30, Salisbury Avenue, Melton Mowbray, together with his father, a carpenter, his mother, and siblings, Herbert, a dyer’s labourer, Thomas, a dyer’s labourer, Alfred, a warehouseman, Ellen Josephine, a rover, born in the January quarter of 1893 in Exton, Agnes, a spinner, Gertrude, a schoolgirl and Leonard, a schoolboy.
FAMILY NOTE: Reginald also had an older sibling, George Fisher, born on the 20th November 1875 in Melton Mowbray.
Reginald’s army service enlistment documents do not survive, therefore the currently available information pertaining to his military service has been obtained from the following sources: - WW1 Service Medal and Award Rolls, WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards and WW1 Pension Ledgers and Index Cards.
Enlisted/Attested in Melton Mowbray into the Territorial Force. 1/10/14.
Joined. At Leicester. 1/10/14.
Posted. To Leicestershire Regt. Pte. 1/10/14.
Allotted the Regimental Service number 2774.
Posted. To 1/5th Bn. Leicestershire Regt. Pte. Date not known.
First entered the theatre of war in France. 29/6/15.
Wounded. In action in the Field. 1916.
Transferred. To 9th Bn. Leicestershire Regt. Pte. Date not known.
Under the Army Council Instruction (A.C.I. 2414/1916), published on the 23rd December 1916, that promulgated a new numbering system for all Territorial Force units, Reginald was allotted the regimental service number 240757.
Transferred. To 1/5th Bn. Leicestershire Regt. Pte. Date not known.
Wounded in action. In the Field. 1918.
Discharged. Under Army Order 29/1919/2 Sickness. Para 392 (xvi) King’s Regulations. 23/1/19.
Died. Disabilities [1] Multiple gunshot wounds. [2] Tuberculosis. Attributed to War Service. 5/3/22.
Buried. Place not known.
Awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal and Silver War Badge, No. B.117040.
On Friday July 14th, 1916, The Leicester Daily Mercury published the following article on page 4, under the heading. – LOCAL CASUALTIES. – Melton Men in the Casualty Lists. – Mr. and Mrs. J. Turner, Rosebery-avenue, Melton Mowbray, have received an official intimation that their son, Pte. R. TURNER, is in hospital dangerously wounded by shrapnel in the left lung. He has four brothers serving, and one has been discharged, as medically unfit, while another expects to be called up next month.
On Friday June 21st 1918, The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “LOCAL CASUALTIES.” – The following local names have appeared in the official casualty lists published during the past week: - From Wednesday’s list: Leicestershire Regt. – Turner, 240757 R. L., (Melton Mowbray).
[recognitum X-VI-MMXXIII]