CAPTAIN GEORGE CORRALL TURNER, 2/6th BATTALION WEST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT.


CAPTAIN GEORGE CORRALL TURNER, 2/6th BATTALION WEST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT. KILLED IN ACTION 13th SEPTEMBER 1917 AGED 32


Corrall Turner was born in Ilkley on 27th September 1884 the son of John Turner a cotton yarn agent and his wife Sabina. The family, including Corralls older brothers, lived in various houses across the town before finally settling at Newlands on Grove Road.


Educated at Ilkley Grammar Corrall also spent a year at Sedbergh School leaving in 1901 to take a degree in engineering at Leeds University. Moving to Kendall in Cumberland, after the completion of his degree, he worked as an engineer and became a member of the Lake District 'Fell and Rock Climbing Club'.

In about 1910 and a now a member of the Institute of Civil Engineers Corrall set sale for Canada were he worked in the province of British Columbia. At the outbreak of war in 1914 he returned to England and enlisted into the Leeds University Officer Training Corps before transferring to the 2/6th Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment the following year.

Gazetted as 2nd Lieutenant, Corrall remained with the battalion until January 1917 when it was posted to the Western Front. His commanding officer described him as cool and courageous and promoted him to captain in charge of the battalions 'B' Company.

On the morning of the 13th September 1917 the 2/6th were in the front line at Noreuil south east of Arras when at 4am the Germans opened a tremendous artillery battery against the West Yorkshire Battalion. Then about 90 minutes later German 'Storm Troopers' were launched against the battered British line. The brunt of the attack fell upon Corralls 'B' Company. Dashing from post to post he organised the defenses and let his men in a hand to hand fight with the enemy. Unfortunately, just as the enemy troops were beaten a German mortar shell struck Corrall, killing him instantly.

Lt Col. Hore, the commanding officer of the 2/6th West Yorks would write of Corrall "He inspired his men who fought like heroes..." To his parents he would say "..in truth he was a strong silent man who was loved and trusted by all. He disliked war intensely, but valued his duty more...". His colonel fought to have his bravery recognised by the award of a Victoria Cross but sadly this wish was never fulfilled.

Today, Captain George Corrall Turner is buried along side the other men of his company who died that day, in the British Military Cemetery at Favruil and remembered with pride on our war memorial in Ilkley.

Taken at Sommerlayton, George is seated on the left




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