Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Eli Thomas and Elizabeth Turner. The 1911 census records for 3, School Lane, Market Harborough, Leics. Eli Thomas Turner, head of the family and married for 27 years, a Rural Postman, born 1859 in Pailton Warwickshire, and his wife Elizabeth, born 1849 in Market Harborough, Leicestershire, also Elizabeth Annie, daughter, single and an Assistant School Mistress, born 1886, Edwin Fielding, son, single and a Compositor, born 1887 and Florence Mary, daughter, single and a Dressmaker, born 1890, all three children were born in Market Harborough, Leics. His enlistment documents record that he gave his trade or calling as Printer and his next of kin as his father, Eli Thomas Turner of 3, School Lane, Coventry Road, Market Harborough, Leicestershire, England. He stated that he was unmarried. Information taken from his medical examination shows that he was 5 foot 8 inches in height, weighed 11 stone 3 pounds, and had a chest measurement of 35 ½ to 37 inches. His complexion was described as dark with dark eyes and dark brown hair. It was noted that he had vaccination marks on his left arm. He gave his religion as Church of England. His record of service gives the following information. 3rd February 1916 admitted to 3rd Auxilliary Hospital, Heliopolis suffering from influenza. 25th March 1916 discharged to duty. 27th March 1916 embarked at Alexandria, Egypt aboard HT. “Saxonia.” 3rd April 1916 disembarked at Marseilles, France. 5th April 1916 taken on the strength of the Australian Divisional Base Depot at Etaples, France. 12th May 1916 taken on the strength of the 20th Battalion. 16th July 1916 admitted to 5th Australian Field Ambulance suffering from blistered feet. 17th July 1916 discharged to unit. 29th July 1916 killed in action, buried at Gordon Dump Cemetery, Sausage Valley between La Boisselle and Contalmaison, 2 ¾ miles East-North-East of Albert, France. A parcel of his personal possessions was posted to his father, its contents comprised, a comb, bank book No.119643. Tarana Branch, New South Wales, devotional book, wallet, 2 belts, badges, 3 military books, 2 handkerchiefs, housewife, mirror (damaged) and brush. An application for a war pension by his father, Eli Thomas Turner was rejected on the grounds that there was no proof of dependence, and the claimant has adequate means of support.