7495: Albert William Stallard, Frederick Turton and George William Turton

online resource

posted on 2024-01-17, 17:23 authored by Lest We Forget Project Team

Albert William Stallard, known as Will, was my grandfather. He was born in 1887 to Albert and Frances Jane Stallard. He married Ada Annie Turton in 1913. Their daughter, Doris Elizabeth Frances, was born in 1914 and their son, Stanley George Kitchener, was born in 1915.

Albert William Stallard enlisted in 1916 and was in the Machine Gun Corps with service number 55553. He was sent to France in 1916 and was attached to the 9th Battalion known as the 'Kilted Brigade'. The Battalion was made up of Black Watch, Cameron Highlanders, Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders and Seaforth Highlanders. During this time he heard many tales of the capture and torture by the Germans of the Scottish soldiers at Ypres in 1915. He wrote poetry. He often sent letters to his family, mainly his wife, while he was in the trenches. In one of his letters he talks about being on the Arras Front and the Somme Front. His younger brother Charles, aged about 15, wrote him letters.

Albert William Stallard survived the war and was demobilised in 1919. He returned home to his family in Tottenham and returned to his job as a leather goods salesman. His wife mentioned that when he returned home he was covered in fleas and lice. Three more children were born into the family, Kenneth, Joan and Alan. Albert William Stallard died shortly after the outbreak of the Second World War.

George Charles Turton was my great uncle, being a brother to my grandmother, Ada Annie Stallard nee Turton. He was born in 1886 to George Turton and Elizabeth Turton nee Restarick. George Charles Turton joined the 17th Company of London Regiment with service number 5407. He was only in France for two weeks, then Salonica for two months (in the infantry) and Egypt for two years (Labour Corps). His service number in the Labour Corps was 360745. He was confirmed by the Bishop of Jerusalem while he was in Egypt. He suffered from malaria and an inguinal hernia - both contracted during his war service. He was hospitalised in Salonica and Egypt. I have a standardised card dated 26th August 1917 saying he had been admitted to hospital. Research indicates he was in hospital from 26th August to 13th September 1918 in the 19th General Hospital, Egypt.

Frederick Sladen Turton was my great uncle, being a brother to my grandmother, Ada Annie Stallard nee Turton. He was born in 1890. He was a sapper in the Royal Engineers and served in France.

George Charles Turton, Frederick Turton and Ada Annie Turton had a sister Elizabeth (Lizzie) known to us as Aunt Bette. Most of the artefacts I have came from her.

History

Name of contributor(s)

Diane Fleming

Subject of the story/individual the object(s) relate to

Albert William Stallard. Private, Machine Gun Corps. George Charles Turton. Private, 17th London Regiment, Labour Corps. Frederick Sladen Turton. Sapper, Royal Engineers.

Date(s) the event(s) in the story took place

1916. 26/08/1917.

Location(s) where the event(s) in the story took place

Arras, France. Somme, France. Salonica. Egypt.

Object(s)

1. First British Empire Broadcast, Remembrance Festival, November 11 1927. 2 images. 2. Poetry by Albert William Stallard. 2 images. 3. Part of a letter from Albert William Stallard to his wife. 4 images. 4. German propaganda brought back from the battlefield either by Albert William Stallard or by Frederick SladenTurton. 1 image. 5. Christmas Cards sent by Albert William Stallard. 5 images. 6. Sketches of billets and rail transport done at the front by Frederick Sladen Turton. 1 image. 7. Homemade Christmas cards sent to the front 1917. 4 images. 5. Standardised letter from George Charles Turton dated August 26th 1917 saying he had been admitted to hospital. 2 images.