A Fine Collection of Awards to the Canadian Forces

Family group:

Five: Warrant Officer Class 1 A. F. Turner, Royal Canadian Air Force, who was taken P.O.W. after his Halifax of No. 102 Squadron was downed by flak during a raid on Dusseldorf in January 1943, but who subsequently perished in a forced march from Stalag VII-B in March 1945

1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; Defence Medal 1939-45, silver; Canadian Voluntary Service Medal 1939-45, with overseas clasp; War Medal 1939-45, silver, in their card boxes of issue, together with the recipient’s Canadian Memorial Cross, G.VI.R., the reverse officially inscribed to the recipient, in its case of issue, extremely fine

Pair: Private F. G. Turner, 50th (Calgary) Battalion, Canadian Infantry

British War and Victory Medals (435793 Pte. F. G. Turner, 50-Can. Inf.), together with a related C.E.F. ‘For Services at the Front’ lapel badge, the reverse officially numbered ‘321655’, suspension a little slack on the first, otherwise very fine or better (9) £400-500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Fine Collection of Awards to the Canadian Forces.

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Alan Frederick Turner was born in Calgary, Alberta, on 18 November 1920. A Taxi Driver by profession, he enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force in February 1941 and, on selection for aircrew duties, trained as a W.O./A.G.

A Flight Sergeant by the time he was embarked for England in early 1942, he joined No. 102 Squadron as an Air Gunner, a Halifax unit operating out of Pocklington, in July of the same year, and completed numerous sorties prior to his election to the Caterpillar Club on the night of 27-28 January 1943, when his Halifax was hit by flak over Dusseldorf and crashed into the Waddenzee, east of Den Helder - three of the crew were killed, but he, and two others, survived to be taken P.O.W.

Interned in Stalag VII-B, near Lamsdorf, Germany, he died of dysentery during the forced march imposed on the prisoners in March 1945, a fate described by an eye-witness, Warrant Officer Rex Kemp, R.A.F.:

‘After his death Turner was put into a shed at the back of this Lazerrette and I was informed by the Russian medical student that Turner would be buried in the same place. Before this could be carried out, I was put on the march again.

Al Turner was taken ill at the same time as myself in a barn approximately 40 km. west of Miessen. We both had dysentery. This was on Saturday, 17 February. On the Sunday, 18 February, the Germans gave us a rest day; but would not allow us to contact the British M./O. who was billeted two km. away. On Monday, the 19 February, we were made to continue the march, and we carried on until Saturday, 24 February, until we reached Zeitz. There we were so ill that it was impossible to carry on any more and with eight more sick men, were left at this empty house which had formerly been a Russian Lazerrette and under the care of the Russian Medical student. This student had no medical supplies beyond five or six doses of liquid opium. When this ran out on the second day, our medical attention ceased. Three out of the five suffering with dysentery died, Al Turner being one of them. Two we buried -no padre's or German representatives, excepting one guard being present. Turner, as I have explained, we could not bury. I hope it is possible for the Allied authorities to give these lads a decent burial, and I wish to tell you, Sir, these lads died through the lack of medical attention and supplies. The Hun is as responsible for their death, just as if he had shot them.

Enclosed is Turner’s Caterpillar Club membership card. He wished it to be sent to his mother. You may send her my address and if she wishes to write to me, I will reply.’

Sadly Turner’s mother had died while he was in captivity, but the membership card no doubt found its way to his father, Frederick George Turner. His gallant son, who was 24 years of age, has no known grave and is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial; sold with a large quantity of copied official correspondence regarding his fate.