TURNER, Tom (of Lowdham)

Royal Engineers (sapper) WR/10676

By Christoper Camm

Tom Turner.1878-1940

Tom was born 12th.Feb.1878. in Lowdham,Nottinghamshire. He was the second child of Miller and Agnes Jane Turner.When Tom was four years old they lived in Saxondale.His father was working at the brickyard to the rear of Saxondale Hospital.By then Tom was one of three children.When Tom was thirteen years old he and his family were living at 94 Beacon Hill Road Newark on Trent,he is now one of six children.In 1901 Tom aged 23 was still living at the same address with his father and mother.He is now working at Cafferata’s brick company with his father who was forman.During this period Tom played football for Coddington Football Club.In 1909 Tom was living at 7 Lindum Street.Newark.On 9th.of January 1909 Tom married Mary Ann Hopkinson at Newark Parish Church,he was thirty years old Mary Ann was twentysix.On 22nd.of April 1912 their first and only child was born a girl Muriel they are now living at 106 Beacon Hill Road Newark.

In 1914 Tom was enlisted into the army and was sent to France .His army record was destroyed in the blitz in the second world war.Only thirty per cent of WW1 records survive.What we do know Tom was in The Royal Engineers Reg.No.260228.Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment 2678.Rank Sapper.WR/10676. 1914-1920=323 Quarrying Company.Quarrying Companies of the Royal Engineers consisted of the 198th.-199th.-320th.to 329th.and the 348th. The primary mission of these companies was the operation of quarries for the purpose of producing crushed stone aggregate for the contruction of roads and for ballast for the railway tracks.Equipment used was pneumatic compressers,drills and jack hammers.Cheddite was used as an explosive until 1916 and then Blastine was supplied by the British.The men who served in these companies were relatively safe from harm but this does not mean they were without losses,some died from accidents and disease,many died just two months before the end of the war with the Spanish flu epidemic. In July 1918 Tom was called home his wife Mary Ann had contracted the Spanish Flu, she was now living in Nottingham at 9 Shaftsbury Terrace off Waterway Street, why she moved there remains a mystery. She died 11th. July 1918 Tom was with her when she died. She was buried in a communial grave with eighteen other victims in Nottingham cemetery. Tom would then have to find a home for his daughter Muriel, she would be six years old, where she went we do not know. Tom would then go back to France for two more years. In 1921 Tom was living at 6 Cotton Square Newark.He died 1940 and is buried in Newark cemetery.