Coggeshall Officer's Graphic Story
Both photos are by courtesy of Shirley Ratcliffe at the Coggeshall Museum
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From the Chelmsford Chronicle Friday 21st July 1916
COGGESHALL OFFICER'S GRAPHIC STORY.
Coggeshall has very pleasant recollections the 8th Warwicks, and it will be with mingled feelings, pride and regret that they will read the graphic story of the recent fighting in the great Anglo-French offensive contained in a letter from Lieut John Turner to his home in Coggeshall. The Lieutenant joined the 8th Warwicks when that regiment was stationed the town, and in his letter he writes:
'The 8th that you know has emerged from one of the hottest and most awful battles in history, a memory only. The C.O. is dead. Hoskins, Fussell, Wareham, Proctor, Caddick, Washy, Boxer, James, Hands, Roy; alas, dear boys, God rest them!
We went over first, followed by a crowd of famous regular regiments. The 8th were splendid, past imagination, the Regulars and their Generals cannot say enough for the dash and spirit of our own on-rush, but we were up against one of their most formidable positions in the whole line, and they met us with a furious fire. After two or three hours’ advance, mostly crawling, I found myself in a big sort of crater trench, and heard myself greeted by Capt Martin, "Bravo, Turner, come in, man; don't expose yourself,” and there for hours, consolidated a strong position with the help a heterogeneous crowd of famous Regulars who, having lost their own officers, clung to us (men of my own county among them). Attacked on both sides we were slowly driven back. Later, I found myself with the remnant a gallant Scots regiment. Martin again joined us, and we had orders to evacuate at dark. We had held on to a desperate position for over 12 hours. At nightfall, Capt. Martin told me to go away with my dozen or so Warwicks. We crawled painfully over the shell-rent debris, sniped at all the way. One man was hit. I came on to a wounded German, he begged for water. I tapped my empty water-bottle. 'I have no water,' I said, sadly. He smiled and murmured something which I would fain have caught. Oh. that awful journey. The dead and the dying, lying crawling along the road.
"In the early hours of Sunday morning I was found asleep on a doorstep in a desolate village nearby by a chaplain. He took me by the arm and made me sleep in an empty house. Next day we got together the remnants our regiment, and came here, and were greeted with bands and cheering, and the dear R.A.M.C. people have tried to kill us with kindness. I felt as if I had just got through an awful illness.
"This morning Woods Hill. Lieutenant, R.A.M.C., took me out riding before breakfast. They talk about recommending me for Captaincy, but what is personal promotion at such a time?
Please do not hesitate to show this to any Coggeshall friends who may be looking for news of our dear Warwicks. I doubt if many will hear from their own dear boys.'
'Jack' Turner was killed in action on the 22nd October 1918, three weeks before the armistice brought WW1 to an end.LIEUT. JOHN TURNER, M, C., CROIX DE GUERRE
Killed in Action in France Oct. 22, 1918
Lieut John Turner was the eldest son of the late Mr John Rootsey Turner, of Coggeshall. He enlisted into the Royal Warwick Regiment in October 1914, and went to France in March, 1915. In the following November he was gazetted Lieutenant. His regiment took a prominent part in the operations on the Somme on July 1, 1916, and for conspicuous gallantry in the field Lieut. Turner was awarded the Military Cross. In June of this year he was presented with the French Croix de Guerre, the honour being accompanied by a document couched in the following terms:- “On the morning of the 1st June 1918, being in the first line before 'V' [the name of the town witheld], Lieut John Turner, M.C. by his example and his exhortations held his company under a violent barrage of fire, prolonged and murderous, repelling two enemy attacks, and holding his positions, without which his company could not have held out.” Many friends mourn the loss of this gallant and distinguished young officer, whose charming, lovable personality rendered him universally popular, and whose skill as an artist had gained him considerable fame. Deepest sympathy in their irreparable loss is extended to his three sisters and to his only brother, W. E. Turner of the London Rifle Brigade, who is a prisoner in Germany.
John Turner, known as Jack, was a Coggeshall man and became Assistant Master at the National School in Queen Street. A well-known artist, he painted and sketched local people and scenes. World War I and the arrival of the Royal Warwicks in Coggeshall lead to his joining up. His tragic death in 1918 meant that he was never able to take up the offer of a place at the Slade in London.
Jack must have remembered such quiet and tranquil scenes of home whilst enduring the horror of the war in France.
Despite the awfulness that sometimes happens, how lucky we are.
Comments
By Peter Glossop: Thank you for all your interesting photos By Yvonne: Always good to hear about local people. Great information By Jane Sharp: What a heartfelt article to read so near to 100 years, thank you for sharing. By Emma Bailey: What a fascinating read, but just unbearable to think what those men had to endure. Thanks for posting this. By Patrick Divine: This article really made my children think. The photo's outside the church (they are in the scouts and are attending the remembrance service) at St Peter's and on Market Hill are a strong visual reminder of the sacrifice that was made by many local people. By Rod Miller: I think the Turners had a family presence in Coggy up until the 70's I can recall the Turners living the house above the entrance to St Peters Hall in Stoneham St The father was a Solicitor ? in town John became a judge, the next son ? became a vicar? and died a while back and Michael (bink) was a solicitor also All were connected to the church and a couple were choir members