TURNER, Francis Harold

TURNER, Francis Harold – A Southern Downs Veteran

CONFLICT : WWI
SERVICE NO : 4552
RANK : Private
UNIT : 25th Battalion
ENLISTMENT DATE : 30/09/1915
AGE : 18
PLACE OF ENLISTMENT : Toowoomba, Queensland
PLACE OF BIRTH : Echura, Victoria
RELIGION : Methodist
OCCUPATION : Labourer
DATE OF DEATH : 7/05/1917
PLACE OF BURIAL : No Known Grave

MEMORIALS : Yelarbon War Memorial, Yelarbon Roll of Honour, Goondiwindi War Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Villers-Bretonneux Memorial

View Veteran’s Service File : TURNER, Francis Harold

NOTES : TURNER, Francis Harold – By Duncan McLean

Francis Harold Turner, known as Frank, was the eldest of four children to Edwin Robert Turner and Alice Simons Turner (nee Edwards). Two of his first cousins also served, Albert Yelland Turner 343 and William Albert Weymouth 4558. Reginald Harry William McAuliffe 762 DCM also of Yelarbon, married another of Frank’s cousins Mabel Weymouth.

Frank was only eighteen when he enlisted at Toowoomba on 30 September, 1915. He gave his address initially as Boggabilla N.S.W., although this was subsequently updated to Yelarbon, Queensland. Frank was 5 ft, 9 in tall, and weighed 160 lbs (73 kg). He had blue eyes and brown hair. At the time of enlistment, Frank gave his occupation as labourer.

Frank proceeded to France on 27 July 1916, and joined the 25th Battalion (11th reinforcements) on 8 August. He spent time in hospital with a septic thumb in November 1916, and with trench foot in January 1917. The winter of 1916-17 was reported to be the coldest in more than 20 years. Frank was killed in action at Bullecourt on Monday 7 May, 1917. As he has no known grave, he is commemorated on the Villers Bretonneux Memorial. Frank was one of 27 members of the 25th Battalion killed at Bullecourt.

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

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