Pte 15729 Clifford Turner

• Age: 32
• From: Great Crosby, Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Sunday 24th March 1918
• Commemorated at: Pozieres Memorial
  Panel Ref: P21-23

Clifford Gray Turcan was born in the third quarter of 1885 in Great Crosby, Liverpool the son of James Gray Turcan and his wife Edith Annie (nee Tonge). His father was born in Falkirk, Scotland in 1855, and the family had moved to Liverpool by the mid 1860s. His mother was born in Claughton, Cheshire in about 1859. His parents were married in 1884 at St James in Birkdale.

His father, a provision merchant in Liverpool, tragically drowned in 1887 at the age of 32, while swimming in Peel Bay, Isle of Man. He had taken out two life insurance policies, for £1,000 and £500, after his marriage in 1884. His death by drowning was ruled accidental, but the dispute over the insurance policies was protracted and eventually decided in the House of Lords in 1889 and written up in The Law Times.  After the inquest his father’s body was brought back to Liverpool by his brothers and laid to rest in Toxteth Park Cemetery at Sec. G, Grave 314.

The 1891 Census – 4 Claremont Road, Birkdale  Edith Annie Turcan is a widow with her son Clifford G Turcan. 

In 1901 at 74 Magazine Lane, Liscard, Edith Annie Turner is now married to Henry Turner and her son is recorded as Clifford G. Turner. 

By 1911 the family are living at 56 Alexandra Road, Great Crosby, Liverpool. Clifford is 25 years of age and is described as a clerk in the bag and sack trade. His step father, Henry, is a 65 year old retired book keeper to an insurance company, born in Carnarvon, whilst his mother is 52 years of age and is recorded as having been born in Oxton, Cheshire. They have been married 14 years but have not had any children. Also present is a daughter 18 year old Elsie Turner who is described as a Dumfries resident, presumably Henry's daughter from his previous marriage. 

Clifford enlisted at St George's Hall, Liverpool on 02nd September 1914 joinng in the 17^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 15729. He gave his age as 29 years and 56 days and his occupation as a book-keeper. He was described as being 5' 11 and a half inches tall, weighed 148lbs, with a 36 and half inch chest. He is of sallow complexion with hazel eyes and dark hair.  

He was billeted at Prescot Watch Factory from 14^th September 1914, he trained there and also at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 17th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. He arrived in France on 7^th November 1915.

He was granted his good conduct badge on completion of two years service on 02nd September 1916. He was granted leave from 25th January 1917 - 03rd February 1917. On 14th February 1917 his service record shows that he embarked under escort as absentee on board La Marguerite bound for Le Harve. He is then shown as under escort at Etaples on 13th March 1917. He rejoined the 17th Battalion in the field on 25th March 1917. He was granted further leave to the UK between 25th April and 05th May 1917. He attended the 5th Army School of sanitation on 15th January 1918 rejoining his battalion on 19th January. He has a further period of leave from 10th to 24th February 1918.There is a note from the casualty roll that Clifford was wounded in action on 24th March 1918.  

Clifford was killed in action on the 24^th March 1918, aged 32, during the German Spring Offensive.

"The 17th & 18th King's of the 30th Division where in the neighbourhood of Verlaines on 24th March 1918 ...continuous Enemy Shell Fire and Machine Gun fire from 1.a.m the night of 23/24 th.  Dawn broke as usual with Mist covering the ground. At 8 a.m the Enemy's guns shelled the front branches and shortly afterwards the Germans came on in strength. Step by Step disputing almost every yard of ground the Division fell back fighting all the way over the four miles of country to the Canal du Nord.  Officers and men were by now absolutely exhausted, for they had been fighting continuously for three days and nights."

He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial.

The POZIERES MEMORIAL relates to the period of crisis in March and April 1918 when the Allied Fifth Army was driven back by overwhelming numbers across the former Somme battlefields, and the months that followed before the Advance to Victory, which began on 8 August 1918. The Memorial commemorates over 14,000 casualties of the United Kingdom and 300 of the South African Forces who have no known grave and who died on the Somme from 21 March to 7 August 1918.

The cemetery and memorial were designed by W.H. Cowlishaw, with sculpture by Laurence A. Turner. The memorial was unveiled by Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien on 4 August 1930.

The International Red Cross holds a card in his name, showing, Wounded and Missing 24th March 1918, Attached Machine Gun Corps, Headquarters Company, but no other information is available. His mother, Edith, wrote to the authorities in January 1919 asking for assistance and asking that they contact a Sgt Glover? who was with Clifford when he was wounded. In March 1919 and still not having had any confirmation of Clifford's fate, she wrote again to advise that several of his comrades advised her that Clifford was shot through the heart and that this has been supported by his battalion. A response was sent by the War Office asking for the regimental numbers, ranks and names and addresses of his comrades who had advised her of Clifford being shot. She replied in the negative on 03rd April 1919 advising that the soldier who gave her the news of Clifford being shot did not see it himself but was actively trying to trace the man who had told him. She advised that she hoped that once the information was in her possession that she would advise them of the particulars.The War Office corresponded again with Clifford's mother in November 1919 in relation to a further letter sent by her to their offices on October 25th 1919. They advise that they have no further information and have been trying to obtain POW records. They do state that they are sorry for not being in a position to provide any further in formation but do concede that the chances of Clifford being alive are small. His service papers are actually marked in June 1919 that his death occured on or since 24th March 1918. The prolonged agony of poor Edith Turner is plain for all to see. She must have been notified of his death soon after the correspondence of November 1919 as Probate of his estate was obtained at Liverpool on the 23rd December 1919 by Edith. His effects were valued at 368 9s 7d (16,000 at current values).  

Clifford earned his three medals which his mother received. The pension card, in the name of his mother, at 3 Wellbeck Road, Southport, appears to show a pension was refused, but in many cases of those missing in action, a later decision often awarded a pension. 

Clifford is also remembered on the Southport Civic Memorial. 

We currently have no further information on Clifford Turner, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.