Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of James Turner, a railway guard, born in the January quarter of 1847 in Quenington, Gloucestershire and baptised on the 11th November 1849 in St. Swithin’s Church, Quenington (son of John Turner, 1806 and Elizabeth Pert (Purt), 1814) and his wife Mary Turner (nee Taylor, married on the 24th November 1872 in St. Margaret’s Church, Leicester), born 1848 in East Langton, Leicestershire and baptised on the 5th January 1848 in St. Peter’s Church, East Langton (daughter of William Taylor, 1817 and Sarah Langley, 1817-1897). Malcolm was born on the 14th March 1891 in South Wigston, Leicestershire and baptised on the 15th January 1903 in the Church of St. Thomas the Apostle, Glen Parva & South Wigston, his siblings were, Theodosia, a shoe trade fitter, born on the 28th March 1874 and baptised on the 28th August 1877 in St. Matthew’s Church, Leicester, Edgar, a shoe trade finisher, born on the 4th June 1875 and baptised on the 28th August 1877 in St. Matthew’s Church, Leicester Eva, a shoe trade worker, born in the January quarter of 1878 and baptised on the 6th March 1889 in the Church of St. Thomas the Apostle, Glen Parva & South Wigston, the latter three siblings were all born in Leicester, Ethel, a schoolgirl, born in the April quarter of 1879 in Wigston Magna, Leicestershire and baptised on the 6th March 1889 in the Church of St. Thomas the Apostle, Glen Parva & South Wigston, Claris (Clarice), a schoolgirl, born in the July quarter of 1881 and baptised on the 6th March 1889 in the Church of St. Thomas the Apostle, Glen Parva & South Wigston, Hilda, a schoolgirl, born in the July quarter of 1885 and baptised on the 6th March 1889 in the Church of St. Thomas the Apostle, Glen Parva & South Wigston, Gwendolen, born in the April quarter of 1887 and baptised on the 6th March 1889 in the Church of St. Thomas the Apostle, Glen Parva & South Wigston and Oscar James, born in the April quarter of 1889 and baptised on the 19th February 1890 in the Church of St. Thomas the Apostle, Glen Parva & South Wigston, the latter four siblings were all born in South Wigston, in April 1891 the family home was at Wingfield House, Orange Street, Wigston Magna.
In March 1901 Malcolm was residing in the family home at 29, Orange Street, South Wigston, together with his father, a railway guard, his mother and siblings, Theodosia, a shoe trade embroiderer, Edgar, a shoe trade finisher, Ethel, a hosiery trade griswold knitter, Claris (Clarice), a boot trade fitter, Hilda, a boot trade fitter, Gwendolen, an elastic trade web winder and Oscar.
In April 1911 Malcolm was absent from the family home at 29, Orange Street, South Wigston, residing there was his father, a Midland Railway Company goods guard, his mother and siblings, Theodosia, a shoe trade machinist, Gwendolen, an elastic trade worker and Oscar, a shoe trade finisher, meanwhile Malcolm was serving as a Private with the Royal Army Medical Corps, and was stationed at McGregor Barracks, Stanhope Lines, Aldershot, Hampshire.
FAMILY NOTES: Malcolm also had the following siblings, Leah born on the 24th February 1873 in Leicester and baptised on the 28th August 1877 in St. Matthew’s Church, Leicester. Ethel, born on the 12th August 1876 in Leicester and baptised on the 28th August 1877 in St. Matthew’s Church, Leicester.
Malcolm enlisted/attested into the Regular Army on the 16th November 1911 in Leicester, and was allotted the regimental service number 5318. He gave his place of birth as St. Thomas, Leicester and age as 19 years 338 days. His marital status was given as unmarried and his trade or calling as shoe hand.
He confirmed that he had previously served with the Leicestershire Regiment. Claimed under age discharge 19th September 1907.
His medical history was compiled during an examination that took place in Leicester on the 16th February 1911 and recorded his birthplace as St. Thomas’s, South Wigston, Leicestershire, declared age as 19 years 11 months, trade or occupation as shoe hand, that he was 5-feet 7¾ inches in height, weighed 126 lbs, had a chest measurement of between 32½ and 35½ inches, his physical development was described as good, pulse rate 84, his vision was described as R.E.-V=D6. L.E.-V=D6. Enlisted at Leicester on the 16th February 1911. Joined on enlistment Royal Army Medical Corps. Regimental No. 5318.
His description on enlistment recorded his apparent age as 19 years 11 months, height 5-feet 7¾ inches weight 126 lbs, chest measurement of between 32½ and 35½ inches his complexion was described as fresh, he had brown eyes and his hair colour was dark brown. The following distinctive marks were noted, scar upper left lip. Tattoo’s snake left forearm, two -?- right forearm. He gave his religion as Church of England.
He was certified as fit for the Army. Date 15th February 1911. Place Leicester.
He gave his next of kin as his father, James Turner, mother, Mary Turner, brother (o) Oscar James Turner, sisters, Theodosia and Gwendolin Turner, 29, Orange Street, South Wigston, Leicestershire. Sister Eva Nixon, The Green, Countesthorpe, Leicestershire, brother (o) Edgar Foxton Lane, Countesthorpe, Leicestershire, sister Clarice Cochrane, 73, Countesthorpe Road, South Wigston, Leicestershire, sister Leah Turner, Clifford Street, South Wigston, Leicestershire.
The compilation of events that occurred during his period of military service are taken from the following sources: - Casualty Form – Active Service (B.103). Statement of the Services of. Military History Sheet.
Joined. At Leicester. 16/2/11.
Posted. To Aldershot. 18/2/11.
Passed. 3rd Class Army Certificate of Education. 11/4/11.
Attended. Training School Royal Army Medical Corps, Aldershot. 14/7/11.
Granted 5th Rate of Corps Pay. 14/7/11.
Appointed. To Nursing Section. 26/9/11.
Appointed. Cook in Military Hospital. 12/2/12.
Transferred. To Army Reserve Class “B”. 15/2/14.
Mobilized. At York. 5/8/14.
Posted. To 4th General Hospital. 5/8/14.
Embarked. From Southampton. 23/8/14.
Disembarked. At Rouen. 25/8/14.
Offence. [1] Overstaying his pass from 5.00pm to 9.30pm (4 hours 30 minutes). Awarded admonishment. 6/11/14.
Offence. 4th General Hospital, Versailles. Absent without leave from 9.00pm until 11.00pm 4/3/15 (2 hours). Awarded 7 days Confined to Barracks. 7/3/15.
Offence. [II] Drunkenness on active service. Absent without leave from 9.00pm to 11.00pm (4 hours 30 minutes). Awarded 7 days Confined to Barracks. 7/3/15.
Offence. 4th General Hospital, Versailles. Overstaying his pass from 11.00pm 8/3/15 to 12.10am 9/3/15 (3 hours 10 minutes). Awarded 4 days Confined to Barracks. 9/3/15.
Offence. Absent from 9.00pm till 10.40pm. Awarded 9 days Confined to Barracks. 8/4/15.
Offence. 4th General Hospital, Versailles. Absent from 9.00pm until 10.00pm (1 hour). Awarded 9 days Confined to Barracks. 8/5/15.
Offence. At Detention Hospital, Paris. [1] 22/5/16, When on active service. Drunkenness. [11] 20/5/16. Creating a disturbance in the Wards. Awarded 14 days Field Punishment No.2. 22/5/16.
Granted. Leave and Ration allowance @ 1/8d per -?- from 22/12/15 to 29/12/15 (7 days).
Transferred. To Detention Hospital, Paris. 14/1/16.
Offence. Detention Hospital, Paris. Absent from Roll call 9.45pm until 10.45pm 14/7/16 (1 hour). Awarded 14 days Confined to barracks. 15/7/16.
Admitted. To 25th Stationary Hospital. Contact smallpox. Rouen. 24/7/16.
Discharged. From 25th Stationary Hospital. 5/8/16.
Joined Base Details, Rouen. 5/8/16.
Posted. To 57th Field Ambulance. In the Field. 7/8/16.
Admitted. To 58th Field Ambulance, inflammation of stomach. In the Field. 31/1/17.
Transferred. To 11th Casualty Clearing Station. In the Field. 2/2/17.
Transferred. Per 27th Ambulance Train. In the Field. 4/2/17.
Admitted. To 13th General Hospital, Boulogne. 5/2/17.
Transferred. To England per Hospital Ship Jan Breydel. 8/2/17.
Discharged. From Norfolk War Hospital under King’s Regulations Para: 392 (XVI) No longer physically fit for war service. 21/3/17.
Summary of Service.
Home Service. 16/2/11 – 22/8/14. 3 years 188 days.
British Expeditionary Force, France. 23/8/14 – 7/2/17. 2 years 169 days.
Home Service. 8//2/17 – 21/3/17. 42 days.
Total Service. 6 years 34 days.
He was awarded the 1914 Star with Clasp & Rose, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Proceedings on Discharge.
(When forwarded for confirmation the documents named on page 4 should be enclosed.)
No. 5318 Army Rank: Private.
Name: Turner, Malcolm.
(The name must agree strictly with that on enlistment, unless changed subsequently by authority.)
Corps: Royal Army Medical Corps.
Battalion, Battery, Company, Depot, &c: Depot.
(If attached to the Regular Establishment of the Special Reserve or Permanent Staff of the Territorial Force, &c., or to General Staff of the Army, it should be so stated.)
Date of discharge: 21st March 1917.
Place of discharge: Aldershot.
[1] Description at time of discharge.
Age: 26 years - months.
Height: 5-feet 7¾ inches.
Chest measurement:
girth when fully expanded 35½ ins.
range of expansion 3 ins.
Complexion: Fresh.
Eyes: Brown.
Hair: Dark brown.
Descriptive marks. (Not recorded]
Trade: Shoe hand.
Intended place of residence: 29, Orange Street, South Wigston, Leicestershire.
(To be given as fully as practicable)
(The measurements and description should be carefully taken on the day the man leaves his unit, but in the case of men sent home from abroad for discharge, the age and intended place of residence should be left blank to be filled in by the Officer who confirms the discharge at home.)
[2] The above-named man is discharged in consequence of: Being no longer physically fit for War Service. Para 392 (XVI) K.R.
(The cause of discharge must be worded as prescribed in the King’s Regulations and to be identical with that on the discharge certificate. If discharged by superior authority, the No. and date of the letter to be quoted.)
[3] Military character: Very good.
[4] Character awarded in accordance with King’s Regulations: Honest, sober, reliable and hardworking. A trained hospital cook. Trained in first aid and ambulance duties.
To be filled in on the soldier quitting the Colours.
(Certified that the above is an accurate copy of the character given by me on Army Form B.2067* and that Army Form D.489 was awarded in this case.
B.P. Captain.
Initials of Commanding Officer.
Malcolm died at 10.25pm on the 31st March 1917 from pulmonary phthisis (Tuberculosis of the lungs).
SERVICE RECORD NOTE: In September 1940, as the result of a fire caused by an incendiary bomb at the War Office Record Store in Arnside Street, London, approximately two thirds of 6.5 million soldiers’ documents for the First World War were destroyed. Those records which survived were mostly charred or water damaged and unfit for consultation and became known as the “burnt documents.” As a consequence, the content and condition of the surviving records can range from good to extremely poor. The hand written information is, in some instances barely legible, and the number of pages that should comprise a full record, in some cases are either badly damaged or missing entirely, however where possible the available information has been transcribed so that it may at least offer the reader a little descriptive insight into some, if not all of the events and background information surrounding the period of service.
On the 28th August 1917, Malcolm’s father, James Turner of 29, Orange Street, South Wigston, Leicestershire was awarded a weekly Army Dependant’s Pension of five shillings and six pence, commensurate on the 4th April 1917.
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