Alexander Buller Turner

Alexander Buller Turner
Born	22 May 1893 Reading, Berkshire
Died	1 October 1915 (aged 22) Chocques, France
Buried	Chocques Military Cemetery
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Years of service	1914-1915 †
Rank	Second Lieutenant
Unit	The Royal Berkshire Regiment
Battles/wars	First World War
Awards	Victoria Cross
Relations	Lieutenant Colonel Victor Buller Turner VC (brother)

Alexander Buller Turner VC (22 May 1893 – 1 October 1915) was an English recipient during the First World War of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. His younger brother, Victor was a recipient of the VC in the Second World War.

Turner was born at home in Reading, Berkshire on 22 May 1893 to Charles Turner, later Major in the Royal Berkshire Regiment, and his second wife Jane Elizabeth, only daughter of Admiral Sir Alexander Buller. He was educated at Parkside School, Surrey and Wellington College, Berkshire and commissioned into the Special Reserve of Officers, Royal Berkshire Regiment, 3rd (Reserve) Battalion, on 11 September 1914. He was subsequently transferred to 1st Battalion.

He was 22 years old, and a second lieutenant in the 3rd Battalion, The Royal Berkshire Regiment (Princess Charlotte of Wales's), British Army, attached to 1st Battalion during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC:

On 28 September 1915 at Fosse 8, near Vermelles, France, when the regimental bombers could make no headway, Second Lieutenant Turner volunteered to lead a new bombing attack. He made his way down the communication trench practically alone, throwing bombs incessantly with such dash and determination that he drove off the Germans about 150 yards without a check. His action enabled the reserves to advance with very little loss and subsequently covered the flank of his regiment in its retirement, thus probably averting the loss of some hundreds of men. Second Lieutenant Turner died three days later of the wounds received in this action.

He was shot in the abdomen at close range during the action for which he was awarded the VC. He was reported to have died at No. 1 Casualty Clearing Station, Chocques on 1 October and he was buried at the Military Cemetery Chocques.

His brother was Lieutenant Colonel Victor Buller Turner VC and had a family connection with General Sir Redvers Buller VC.

His Victoria Cross is displayed at The Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment (Salisbury) Museum, Salisbury, Wiltshire.

The citation for his award, published in the London Gazette on 18 November 1915, reads as follows:

Second Lieutenant Alexander Buller Turner, 3rd Battalion (attached 1st Battalion), Princess Charlotte of Wales's (Royal Berkshire Regiment).
For most conspicuous bravery on 28th September, 1915, at " Fosse 8," near Vermelles.

When the regimental bombers could make no headway in Slag Alley, Second Lieutenant Turner volunteered to lead a new bombing attack: He pressed down the communication

trench practically alone, throwing bombs incessantly with such dash and determination that he drove back the Germans about 150 yards without a check. His action enabled the reserves to advance with very little loss, and subsequently-covered the flank of his regiment in, its retirement, thus probably averting a loss of some hundreds of men.
This most gallant Officer has since died of wounds received in this action.

References

• Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
• The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
• VCs of the First World War - The Western Front 1915 (Peter F. Batchelor & Christopher Matson, 1999)