This is one of a series of posts to mark the international Rugby players who died during The Great War. If anyone has further information on the men concerned, I’d be most grateful if it could be added to the thread. Gareth Turtill, Hubert Sydney (‘Jum’) played for New Zealand Internationals: 1 : 1905 A+ Hubert Turtill was born on 1 February 1880 in London. Later husband of Mabel Edith Turtill of St Helens, Lancashire. Played as a Fullback for: Christchurch, Canterbury, South Island Profession: Hardware merchant’s employee/licensee Remarks: Moved to New Zealand with his parents in 1884. His International was his sole match for the All Blacks. He joined the Rugby League in 1907; and toured England with the NZ team – the ‘All Golds’. Played for St Helens RLFC 1909-1914 after settling in England with his wife and family. His wife and son returned to New Zealand after the War. Alan Turtill, his son, was killed in action in North Africa on 29 November 1941 as a Captain in the NZ Army. War service: 426516, Sergeant, 422nd Field Company, Royal Engineers. Some sources incorrectly have him in the East Lancashire Regiment. He was killed in action on 9 April 1918, in France, when struck by shrapnel, and is buried in Brown’s Road Military Cemetery, Festubert, Pas de Calais, France [Grave IV. D. 6.].
In Memory of Serjeant H S TURTILL 426516, 422nd Field Coy., Royal Engineers who died age 38 on 09 April 1918 Husband of Mabel Edith Turtill, of Bridge St., St. Helens, Lancs. Native of Christchurch, New Zealand. Remembered with honour BROWN'S ROAD MILITARY CEMETERY, FESTUBERT Hubert Sydney Turtill was a stalwart for the Club prior to the First World War. He was signed by the Club at the end of the New Zealand tour of 1907/08. Hubert was born on February 1st., 1880 in London but emigrated to New Zealand as a child. He was rather portly and attracted the nickname 'Jumbo' later shortened to 'Jum'. He signed for the Saints from the Canterbury club in New Zealand because of the friends he had made in the town during the tour. 'Jum' was regarded as one of the best full backs in the world. He made his debut for the Club on the 2nd. of September 1909 against Hull KR. Outside rugby Jum was a popular pub landlord. He played his last match for the Club against Warrington on the 21st. of February 1914. Tragically, Hubert died in action during the First World War. http://www.saints.org.uk/saints.org.uk/home/viewpage.php?page_id=10&num=16455 Hubert was born in Mile End, London in 1880. When he was just four years old, his parents sailed to New Zealand for reasons unknown. His nickname, 'Jum', was bestowed on him while he was on the trip. As a child he was somewhat plump and Jum came from the common nickname for an elephant, Jumbo. But Turtill soon shed his baby fat and as a footballer had a fine, athletic build. Turtill, who in 1909 returned to England, his country of birth, with his wife, Mabel Edith (nee Hancock) formerly of Christchurch and his young son Alan. There he joined the famous Lancashire club, St Helen's, for whom he played until the outbreak of World War I. His profession was listed as a Hardware Merchant's employee/licensee. Being a Lancashire lad now, Turtill wasted no time in heading off to fight the Germans. It's clear that owing to him having two service numbers, the first being T6959 and the second being 426516, he was part of the early Territorial Force (TF) Field Company - the 422nd Coy who in November 1915 was merged into the 55th 2nd West Lancashire Division. Turtill was a Royal Engineer. The RE's were responsible for all manner of technical support such as establishing coordinates for ground fire, delivering chemical warfare, underground mining and transport infrastructure. It's likely that Turtill fought in France as early as October 1915 before the formation of the 55th Division in November 1915 when his service number was changed to 426516. The 55th Division saw action at Hellencourt and Bretencourt, before the 1st battle of the Somme took place. Names like Guillemont, Ginchy, Ribemont, Flers-Courcelette and Morval became home for Turtill while he struggled to exist in the muddy trenches. Then in 1917 he travelled up to the Ypres salient where he'd remain for most of the first half the year and had a comparatively quiet time, if being surrounded by enemy on three sides and under constant artillery fire could be described as quiet. After somehow surviving the battles of Pilkem Ridge and Menin Road Ridge, Turtill was relieved by the 39th Division and travelled south to an area near Cambrai where he would witness a massive tank attack by the Germans. It was now 30th November 1917. The British practically melted away in the onslaught and Turtill was removed for further training at Bomy, near Fruges. In February 1918, Turtill's 55th Division relieved the 42nd (East Lancashire's) in the front line at Givenchy and Festubert. Here he faced numerous strong enemy raids in March. Early April was much quieter: it was the calm before storm - the great German spring offensive! The Battle of Estaires and the defence of Givenchy began on 9th April. All we know about Turtill is that he was killed by shrapnel from a shell burst - probably instantly. He was 38 years old. The Defence of Givenchy was to become the single most famous action that the Division fought. "It was afterwards publicly stated by an officer of the German General Staff that the stand made by the Division on April 9th and the days which followed marked the final ruination of the supreme German effort of 1918". Hubert Turtill is buried at Brown's Road Cemetery, near Festubert, France. His wife and son soon moved back to New Zealand. His son, Alan, lost his life in WW2 in Libya, North Africa aged 32. He was a Captain with the 21st Battalion New Zealand Infantry. His father would have been no doubt very proud of him as would his son been of his father. http://www.nixonpictures.co.nz/All_Blacks_WWI_Hubert_Turtill.html http://www.rleague.com/db/article.php?id=28809 http://www.rleague.com/db/article.php?id=29285
Heres a bit extra ...... At the start of WW1, 422 Field Company was known as 2/1st West Lancashire Field Company, Royal Engineers, part of the 55th West Lancashire Division. The unit designation changed to 422 Field Company in February 1917. The 2/1st Field Company left Larkhill near Salisbury for France at 7.30 am on the 14th January 1916. They sailed on the SS Invector at 5.00pm that night and landed at Le Havre at 7.00 am the next day. Hubert S Turtill originally enlisted prior to 12.9.1914 being allocated the number 6959, he received the number 426516 when the army was re numbered in 1917. For his services in the war, he was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal. His widow would also have received the memorial plaque and scroll. He is not mentioned by name in the War Diary
I came across this today ... Friday 18th December 1918 Local pubs... The following St Helens pubs have had their licence transferred due to the previous licensee now being in the services - The Nelson (Bridge St): from Hubert Sydney Turtill (a native of Christchurch, New Zealand) to Mabel Edith Turtill. ( Hubert was subsequently killed as a Sergeant in the Royal Engineers, on the 9th April 1918, aged 38, when his unit - 422nd Field Company, then part of 55th (West Lancs) Division, along with the 1/5 South Lancs - faced the German Spring Offensive. He is buried at Brown's Road Military Cemetery, Festubert ) The Brown Edge Vaults: Job Edwardson to John Jolley. Bird in Hand: William Gillis to Margaret Gillis. Ste
