A Military Medal to the 11th Canadian Railway Troops 1918

Military Medal (633633 SJT: R.R. TURNER. 11/CAN: R.T.). Naming is officially impressed. Original ribbon, light contact, better than very fine. Accompanied by copies of his Index Cards, Attestation Paper, Service Records, Medical Records, Dental Records, Pay Records and Discharge Certificates.

Footnote: Roland Richard Turner was born on September 7, 1883 in Surrey, England, the son of John Turner and Sarah Turner. He signed his Attestation Paper on March 6, 1916 in Russell, Ontario (near Ottawa), with the 154th Infantry Battalion "Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders", naming his brother, Frank Turner of Surrey as his next-of-kin, stating that he had seven years' previous military service with the 1st Worcestershire Regiment, that he was not married and that his trade was that of Farmer. In his Particulars of Family of an Officer or Man Enlisted in CEF form signed before he left Canada, dated October 11, 1916, he stated that he was insured by the Ancient Order of United Workmen. The Battalion embarked Canada aboard the S.S. Mauretania on October 25, 1916 under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel A.G.F. McDonald with a strength of 29 officers and 872 other ranks, including Turner, arriving in England on October 31st. Upon arrival, he was appointed Acting Company Quartermaster Sergeant at Bramshott. In an Examination by a Standing Medical Board at Bramshott, dated November 28, 1916, the doctor noted that the thirty-three year old Turner had a deformity in his left forearm, due to being previously fractured in 1908. It had been operated upon but there was a marked deformity. Even with the deformity, he was declared "Perfectly fit otherwise." He was transferred to Garrison Duty on January 4, 1917 and appointed Acting Corporal with pay at Bramshott on January 28th, reverting to the rank of Private the same day, in preparation for service overseas with the 3rd Canadian Labour Battalion. He proceeded to the French theatre on February 9th, disembarking at Le Havre, France on the 11th. This Battalion was later re-designated as the 11th Battalion, Canadian Railway Troops on November 21, 1917. By December, he was confirmed as a Corporal on the 17th and appointed Sergeant with pay the same day, later confirmed in the rank of Sergeant. The following winter, Turner was admitted to No. 1 Canadian Casualty Station on November 12, 1918, suffering from a bout of Influenza. After five days recuperation, he was discharged on the 17th and rejoined his unit. Six weeks later, he was transferred to England on December 28th and was posted to the Canadian Railway Troops Depot at Witley and placed on command with the 4th Reserve Battalion from December 31, 1918 to January 20, 1919. Shortly thereafter, he was transferred to the Canadian Concentration Camp at Kinmel Park to prepare for return to Canada. He was struck off strength to Canada on February 22, 1919, embarking Liverpool, England aboard the HMT Belgic on the next day, arriving in Halifax on March 2nd and taken on strength at Military District No. 3 in Ottawa, Ontario on March 6th. He was discharged from active service upon demobilization, at Dispersal Station "G", Military District No. 3, on March 26, 1919 in Ottawa, credited with having served in Canada, England and France, entitled to wear the War Service Badge, Class "A", number 158173, with Turner later settling in Walton, Ontario. Turner was awarded a Military Medal, as published in the London Gazette 31512, page 10584, on August 20, 1919.