TURNER, Albert Yelland Edwin MM

TURNER, Albert Yelland Edwin MM – A Southern Downs Veteran

CONFLICT : WWI
SERVICE NO : 343
RANK : Temporary Sergeant
UNIT : 2nd Machine Gun Battalion
ENLISTMENT DATE : 6/03/1916
AGE : 22
PLACE OF ENLISTMENT : Melbourne, Victoria
PLACE OF BIRTH : Healesville, Victoria
RELIGION : Methodist
OCCUPATION : Farmer
DATE OF DEATH : 3/09/1918
PLACE OF BURIAL : Picardie, France

MEMORIALS : Yelarbon War Memorial, Yelarbon Roll of Honour, Goondiwindi War Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour

View Veteran’s Service File : TURNER, Albert Yelland Edwin

NOTES : TURNER, Albert Yelland Edwin M.M. – By Duncan McLean

Albert Yelland Edwin Turner was the youngest of nine children to William Henry Turner and Elizabeth Turner (nee Yelland). Two of his first cousins also served, these being Francis Harold Turner 4552 and William Albert Weymouth 4558 and also Reginald Harry William McAuliffe 762 DCM who was married to another of Albert’s cousins, Mabel Weymouth.

Albert enlisted at Melbourne on 6th March 1916. He gave his occupation as farmer, and his next-of-kin as his father, Mr William H Turner, Yelarbon, Queensland. He was 5 ft, 9 in. tall, and weighed 160 lbs (73 kg). He had grey eyes and dark brown hair. Albert embarked on the “Orontes” in Melbourne on 16 August, 1916, arriving in Plymouth on 2nd October. He left for France on 22nd December, 1916, and joined the 6th Machine Gun Company (with the 4th reinforcements) on 6th February, 1917.

Albert was promoted to Lance Corporal on 4th August 1917, and Corporal on 12th January 1918. He was awarded a Military Medal for bravery on 18th June 1918, by which time he had transferred to the 2nd Machine Gun Company. He was then promoted to Temporary Sergeant on 24th August.

The official citation of Albert’s Military Medal Reads:
2nd Australian Machine Gun Battalion AIF
343 Corporal Albert Yelland Edwin TURNER
VILLE SUR ANCRE, near Albert 19th May, 1918
Military Medal
During operations on the morning of 19th May he volunteered to accompany his officer forward to make a reconnaissance and to find out if the infantry had gained their objective. They encountered an enemy machine gun that had not been mopped up and which opened fire on them at 25 yards range. They rushed the gun and succeeded in taking the crew prisoners. After getting the guns forward, Cpl. Turner took charge of a carrying party and succeeded in getting forward all the ammunition required. He acted throughout with a total disregard of danger and set a splendid example to his men.

Albert died of wounds (a shell wound to his legs) on 3 September, 1918, during the pivotal Battle of Mont St Quentin in late summer 1918. The Australian Corps crossed the Somme River on the night of 31 August and broke the German lines at Mont St Quentin and Péronne. The British Fourth Army’s commander, General Henry Rawlinson, described the Australian advances of 31 August – 4 September as the greatest military achievement of the war.

Albert is buried at Herbecourt British Cemetery, Somme, France. The inscription on his grave reads:
343 Serjeant
A.Y.E. TURNER M.M.
AUST. MACHINE GUN CORPS
3rd SEPTEMBER 1918 AGE 24
LOVE AND REMEMBERANCE OUTLAST ALL

It appears Albert’s Military Medal was at some point lost, and it was recovered by an unrelated citizen in Croydon, Victoria in April 1957.

Copyright 2026 Deborah C Wheeler and Duncan McLean, Southern Downs Military History.

Read about Southern Downs Military History here.