Frank Laurence (Loseby) Turner

Frank Laurence (Loseby) Turner was born in 1895 at Tintaldra, Victoria. He was the seventh child of John and Frances Margaret (nee Osmond) Turner.

He enlisted on June 3 1916, at the age of 21. For his trade or calling, he listed “athlete” (which differed from the dairy hand and clerk occupations he listed on his initial enlistment application). He was allotted the Service Number 519 and placed in the 8th Reinforcements for the 5th Division Machine Gun Company. Frank spent two months at Seymour, undergoing his initial training. On November 23 1916, he embarked on HMAT A20 Hororato at Melbourne and disembarked at Plymouth, England, on January 29 1917. 

On August 24, he pleaded guilty to being absent without leave from noon on August 22 to 8:30 pm the following day. He was required to forfeit two days' pay for his unofficial leave. After more training at Perham Downs, Wiltshire, he proceeded overseas to France on September 22 1917, embarking at Southampton. In mid-March 1918, Frank was promoted to Corporal and, two months later, Sergeant. 

September 1918 was a pivotal month for the AIF, marking the peak of the Allied Hundred Days Offensive. It was the start of the breaching of the Hindenburg Line. The function of the Machine Gun Battalions (redesignated from Company in March 1918) was to provide covering fire for the advancing infantry. The Battalion’s War Diary of 18-9-18 describes the day.

“At 5.20 a.m. (Zero hour) the attack commenced, the Infantry advancing before the enemy barrage developed. Our machine guns placed a heavy barrage on areas shown on Map “A”. Ammunition expended 144,500 rounds.

As a result of our firing, prisoners state that the barrage was extremely accurate and heavy, causing numerous casualties, and making them keep low. Consequently a large number of prisoners were taken but with very slight loss to the advancing Infantry.”

The following day, September 19, Frank was wounded in action for the second time by a gunshot wound to the left thigh and left forearm. His first wounding occurred in late July 1918, but he remained on duty. This time, Frank was evacuated to England and admitted to the Norfolk War Hospital. Early in the new year, he embarked on the Morvada and returned to Australia. For meritorious service and devotion to duty during the period September 22 1917, to February 25 1918, he was recommended to be mentioned in dispatches. 

There are two interesting charges that were placed on Frank, as shown in his Service Record. On May 21 1917, while at Perham, he demonstrated “Conduct to the prejudice of good order and mil. Discipline in that he entered the Railway Station by means of crossing the line. Awarded 10 days CB (confined to barracks) by Capt. Baker.” The second occurred on August 18 1917, where he showed “Conduct to the prejudice of mil. Dis. and good order, in that he  whilst in C.G. Parade was standing easy when ordered to stand at ease. Awarded 4 days C.B. by Maj. A.H. Wright.” Frank also had one day of unofficial leave between November 22 and 23, and forfeited two days' pay as a consequence. 

Franks’ three older brothers, Jack, Will and Alfred, all tried to enlist in the AIF. Will was rejected as being medically unfit, while the other two were successful. Unfortunately, Alfred was killed in action after being at the front for only three weeks.

Frank married Hilda Mansfield Robinson on December 23 1919, at St Thomas’ Church, North Sydney, NSW. At this stage, Frank had not been discharged from the Army. The couple lived at “Tintaldra” Eddy Road in Chatswood. A letter requesting a discharge suit, written by Hilda and signed by Frank, shows Hilda’s elegant handwriting style.

In 1927, Frank moved away. A report in the New South Wales Police Gazette of June 1927 records that a warrant had been issued by the North Sydney Bench for the arrest of Frank, charged with disobeying a magisterial order for the support of his wife and children (￡57 and 8s. costs due). He was described as being “32 years of age, about 5 feet 6 or 7 inches high, medium build, medium complexion, dark brown hair, brown eyes, clean shaved, large scar on inside of left forearm; usually well dressed in grey sac suit, and a grey felt hat; a builder; is the registered owner of a Fiat motor car, No. 26-809, and said to be in the country.” The warrant ran until 1932, when it was recorded in the Police Gazette as being cancelled. Evidence supporting the claim that this is Frank Lowesby Turner is in the description. It states above that Frank has a “large scar on the inside of the forearm”. This is the exact place where Frank was wounded on September 18 1918.

The 1930 Electoral Roll lists Hilda as living at 21 Oliver Rd, Roseville, NSW. Frank is not listed on the roll. By 1936, the couple were living together in Tallangatta. Electoral Rolls show that they moved to Albury that year and lived on Cowper Street. By 1943, they had moved to 511 Paine Place, Albury. Frank would remain here until after Hilda’s death on Aug 10 1971. By 1980, Frank had moved to Unit 4, 414 Macauley St, Albury.

He passed away on January 30 1988, and was buried in the Glenmorus Memorial Gardens in Albury, NSW.