Clement Douglas Turner

Rank:	Private
Street:	Earl Street
Townland:
Town/Village:	Longford
Civil Parish:	Templemichael
Catholic Parish:	Templemichael
Country:
Alternative Address:	Belfast, Co. Antrim
Census 1901:	Resident at Earl Street www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Longford/Longford_No__1_Urban/Earl_Street/1555766/
Census 1911:	Student at King's Hospital, Dublin www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Dublin/Arran_Quay/Blackhall_Place__West_Side/54698/
Regiment/Unit:	North Irish Horse, Household Cavalry
Regiment Number:	1978
Date of Death:	20-07-1917
Cause:	Killed in action
Memorial:	Vlamertinghe New Military Cemetery, Ieper (Ypres), West-Vlaanderen, Belgium
Information:	Clement was born on 2 March 1897 in Longford. He was the youngest son of Robert Turner, then owner of the Longford Independent newspaper. Prior to the war he worked as a clerk in the Bank of Ireland in Belfast and enlisted there in November 1915. Pte Turner served in France and later in Flanders, where he was killed in action near Ypres/Ieper less than two weeks before the beginning of the Third Battles of Ypres (Passchendaele). He is recorded in De Ruvigny's Roll of Honour: Turner, Clement, Trooper, No 1978, North Irish Horse, youngest son of R. J. Turner, of Longford, newspaper proprietor, and Mrs A .Turner (111, Ulsterville Avenue, Belfast); Born at Longford, 2 March, 1897, educated there, and King's Hospital, Dublin. Was a Clerk in the Bank of Ireland, Belfast, joined the North Irish Horse in November, 1915. Served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from November 1916, and was killed in action near Ypres, 21 July, 1917, by the bursting of a shell. He had turned back to help a comrade in difficulties, although warned of the danger of the attempt. Buried in Vlamertinghe New Cemetery. An officer wrote: He was one of the best, and so keen to learn, and another; There is a gloom over the whole squadron ever since he died; he was such a decent chap and so bright, and he would not offend a child. He had been offered a commission, but declined it, preferring to fight as a Private.
Parents Names:	Son of Robert James Turner and Annabella (née Irvine) of Earl Street, Longford
Notes:	The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) site erroneously states that Annabelle Turner was Clement's wife, whereas she was his mother, but may have been residing in Belfast after Robert's death. Clement's cousins, Charles H. and Robert James, who were son's of Clement's uncle Joseph, also served in the Great War. Charles had been with the Durham Light Infantry and was admitted to hospital in Canada in October 1916 for shellshock and deafness (Leitrim Observer, 25/11/1916).
Links:	Link to CWGC entry; link to Civil Record of birth; North Irish Horse memorial; entry in the Bank of Ireland Staff Service Record, Great War 1914-1918; Longford Leader, August 1917, Brave Longford Man Killed;&