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Edward Allen Turnbull enlisted with B Company 33rd Battalion AIF on the 4th of January
1916 at Armidale, NSW with the rank of Corporal and was an original member of the battalion.
Edward embarked for France from Southampton on the 21st of November 1916 and taken on strength
in the field and was promoted to Sergeant on the 9th of December 1916 after sergeant Bailie was
Killed in Action. Edward was sent to hospital on the 30th of April 1917 where he remained for
3 months.
Edward returned to his battalion and was Promoted to 2nd Lieutenant on the 22nd of August 1917.
He was posted to D Company at Passchendaele and served at Road Wood as Lieutenant. After an
extensive period in action Edward was granted leave in Paris on the 24th of June 1918 and after
he re joined the battalion was Promoted to Lieutenent on the 2nd of August 1918. He returned to
the 33rd and went into action at St Quentin on the 30-31st of August 1918.
Edward was placed In Command of D Company at Road Wood after his commander
had been shot. Placed on record for valuable service and devotion on August
31st 1918.
From the southward side Lieutenant. 559 Edward Allen TURNBULL. and
Lieutenant: William Alexander McLEAN. M.C. of the 33rd-the
latter greartly helped by the leaders of the 10th Brigade Sergeant 1007 E E Walters. DCM, 39th Battalion and
Corporal 5024 A V Grinton. DCM, 38th Battalion, worked up and presently rushed the guns, the German Battery
Commander fighting to the last with his revolver. He was shot by Lieutenant. 559
Edward Allen TURNBULL.
During this action Private 726 George CARTWRIGHT V.C.
stood up and from the shoulder fired at the troublesome German gunner and then walking
forward shot him and the two men who took his place. He bombed the german post, took the gun and
captured 9 Germans and took them prisoner.( He was awarded the Victoria
Cross.)
(BEAN; History of World War 1 Vol VI page 819)
Lieutenant: 1470 Leslie Roy BELL was in command of a Platoon on the right of our attack. He displayed
great courage and sound leadershipespecially during the capture of ROAD WOOD. When temporarily held up by a Machine-Gun,
Lieutenant BELL with three men rushed to post, killed two men and captured the gun and the remainder of the crew. On
clearing the wood he again rushed and captured a Machine-Gun and its crew.
The enemy made a stand in the trench system east of the Wood; leading his bombers this Officer succeeded in clearing the
trenches, inflicting casulties and taking several prisoners. While thus engaged he came under heavy artillery fire from a
battery of 77mm guns firing over open sights. Seeing Lieutenant: 1205 William Alexander McLEAN's.
platoon rushing towards these guns he gave covering fire with his Lewis-Gun and led a party forward and helped in the capture
of the Battery. This Officer did especially good work in consolidation and reorganisationn and success. Throughout the night
Lieutenant BELL displayed courage, determination and initiative of the highest order and set and admirable example
to his men.
Edward was granted extended leave after he returned to England from the 2nd of June 1919 to the 5th of
August 1919 where he worked at Laycock and Sons, 181 Sunbridge Road, Bradford. Edward was sent
to the 1st Australian General Hospital on the 23rd of August 1919. Edward returned to Australia
on board HMAT A68 "Anchisses" on the 28th of September 1919.
Edward was a 24 year old Station Hand from "The Forrest" Cobbadah, Barraba, NSW. After the first
world war Edward lived at 129 Blues Point Road, McMahons Point, North Sydney in 1937.
Edward's British War Medal: 44648. Lt E A TURNBULL AIF, was acquired from Phillip Murphy
(Queensland) in June 2006 and is now in the collection. This medal is the first officer to the 33rd
battalion in the collection and the frist mentioned in the Official History of World War 1, Vol
VI page 819-20.
(Edwards E; Never a Backward Step)
Company Quartermaster Sergeant: 504 Hubert Geaoge McCROSSIN. (Front far right)
Company Quatermaster Sergeant: 506 Herbert Caldwell McLEAN. B Company. (Front)
(Australian National Archives)
Under construction 1/11/2007.
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