Turner, Frederick Whitecross (1894 - 1917)

Second Lieutenant, 4th Bn. Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)

Buried at Arras Memorial

Commemorated at Hillhead High School

Second Lieutenant Fred. W. Turner was the elder son of Mr. Fred. Turner, organist of Wellington V.F. Church, and of Mrs. Turner, 6 Elliott Street, Hillhead. Lieut. Turner passed through all the classes in Hillhead High School, and was held in great esteem by his teachers and comrades, to whom his quiet, unassuming manner and upright, reliable character made strong appeal.

On leaving School he entered the service of the Scottish Amicable Life Assurance Society. There his kindly, sympathetic disposition gained for him many friends, while his industry and talents won the approval of his chiefs. The "pomp and glorious circumstance of war" made no appeal to his refined and gentle nature, but to the call of duty he gave instant heed.

October, 1914, saw him in the ranks of the 5th Scottish Rifles, and in September of the following year he was gazetted as second lieutenant in the same regiment. He went to France in September, 1916, when he saw much hard fighting, but came safely through it all till the 9th of April, 1917. On that day, late in the afternoon, he fell at the head of his platoon in an attack on the last line of German trenches after gallantly leading his men through 2 miles of German trenches, "the biggest advance," according to his commanding officer,
"made by any British battalion on one day."

It is at least some satisfaction to his relatives and friends that he fell in the full tide of victory, and with the satisfaction of a great day's work greatly done. His company commander testifies that in his absence Lieut. Turner took over command and acquitted himself in a manner that won the special commendation of the commanding officer, who states that "his quiet, unostentatious work, done efficiently under most trying circumstances, made him one of the most esteemed and best-liked officers in the battalion."