Capt Arthur de Bells Adam (MC)
1885 - 1916

CPL David Wallace Crawford
1887 - 1916

Lce-Corpl John Joseph Nickle
1894 - 1916

Pte 17911 Morton Neill
1897 - 1916

Lieut Edward Stanley Ashcroft
1883 - 1918

Pte 24526 Joseph Edward Turton

Age: 30
From: Liverpool
Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
Died Sunday 26th November 1916
Commemorated at: De Cusine Ravine B C Basseux
Panel Ref: E.3

Joseph Edward was born in the summer of 1886 in Liverpool, the son of Isaac Turton and his wife Maria Elizabeth (nee Howard). Isaac, from Walton, and Maria, from Prescot, married in the June quarter of 1874, the marriage was registered in West Derby, and had one daughter and six sons. Joseph was their youngest child, and was known as Joe. His siblings were Florence, Albert, Francis, Isaac, William (Ernest), and Richard.

On the 1891 Census the family is living at 145 Rice Lane, Walton, on the father’s shoe shop premises. His father Isaac is aged 42, a boot and shoe maker, his mother, Maria, is aged 39. There are seven children declared in the household; Florence M., is aged 16, and is a shop assistant, Albert H., is aged 14, and is an apprentice, at school are; Francis, aged 13, Isaac, aged 12, William E., aged 10, and Richard T., aged 9. Joseph, is aged 4.

On the 1901 Census, the family are living at 20 Wellfield Road, Walton. His father, Isaac, is aged 50, and is a boot manufacturer/employer, his mother, Maria, is aged 40. There are still seven children declared on the Census; Florence is aged 2, Albert, is aged 24, a journeyman bootmaker, Francis, is aged 23, and is a postman, Isaac, is aged 22, and is a hairdresser, William, is aged 21, and is a railway clerk, Richard, is aged 20, and is a boot shop manager, and Joseph, is aged 15, and is employed as a tea merchant’s apprentice.

The 1911 Census finds the family at 193 Rice Lane, with three sons at home. His father,is aged 62, and is a boot maker/employer, working from home. His mother, is aged 59. They advised that they have been married for 37 years, and have had 7 children. Isaac, is aged 32, and is a hairdresser, Joseph, is aged 24, and is single, working from home as a stationer. His brother Ernest, is aged 30, and is a widower, he is still a railway clerk. Also in the household is grandchild Doris, age 2, Ernest’s daughter.

On the 1911 Census Catherine was aged 28, born in Kilwinning, Ayrshire, Scotland and was a neighbour of Joseph’s living at 189 Rice Lane, working as a fruit shop assistant.

Joe married Catherine Brownlie Lindsay in late 1914 in West Derby Register Office. No records of children born to the marriage have been found. (Banns were read for the marriage of Catherine Brownlie Lindsay and John Gittens Jones “a bachelor of the high seas”, in November and December 1913, in St. Peter's Church, Aintree but the marriage did not take place. Catherine was born in Scotland and in 1911, was a neighbor of Joseph’s living at 189 Rice Lane, and working as a shop assistant.)

Joe’s mother died, aged 65, on Christmas Day in 1915.

Her death was reported in the Liverpool Echo on Monday 27th December 1915;

TURTON - December 25, at 205 Rice-lane, Walton, aged 65 years, Maria Elizabeth, the beloved wife of Isaac Turton. Interment at Kirkdale Cemetery, Longmoor-lane, on Wednesday next, at 2 p.m.

Her loved ones placed notices in the Liverpool Echo on 26th November 1917;

Roll Of Honour.

TURTON - In fondest remembrance of my dearly-loved and loving husband Joseph Edward (Joe), K.L.R., who was killed in action in France, November 26, 1916. (My ideal and my all.) - His sorrowing Wife.

TURTON - In loving memory of Private Joe Turton, King's (Liverpool Regiment), who was killed in France, November 26, 1916.

His memory is as fresh to-day

As in the hour he passed away.

(Ever remembered by his Father, Sister Florrie, and Brother Dick.)

Joe enlisted in the 18th (Pals) Battalion of The King’s (Liverpool) Regiment as Private 24526.

He trained with his battalion locally at Knowsley, then at Belton Park in Lincolnshire, and for final infantry training on Salisbury Plain before being sent to the front. The battalion disembarked at Boulogne on 7th November 1915.

Joe survived the Battle of the Somme, including that deadly first day and the Battle of the Transloy Ridges in October. At the end of October the battalion moved north of the Somme to take over a section of the line opposite Bienvillers. On 26 November 1916, the War Diary records;

“Casualties caused by dugout falling in - Wounded, shock and contusions Private W.J. Denny; Killed - Pte. S. Phillipson 49244, Pte. P. Lewis 13200, Pte. J. Turton. 24526.”

Joe was 30 years old when he died.

He now rests at De Cusine Ravine British Cemetery, Basseux, France where his headstone bears the epitaph:

“FATHER IN THY GRACIOUS KEEPING LEAVE WE NOW OUR LOVED ONE SLEEPING”

800 metres South East of the village is a ravine called the Fosse de Berles, but known to the French troops (who had a field kitchen there) as the Ravin des Cusines; and on the further side of the ravine is the British Cemetery bearing a modified form of the French Army name. A French Military Cemetery close to it, also named from the ravine, has now been removed. The cemetery was begun by the 13th King's Royal Rifles in February, 1916, and used by units holding this front until March, 1917; one further burial took place in September, 1917. There are now over 60, 1914-18 war casualties commemorated in this site. Two brothers are buried in Row C, graves 6 and 7. The cemetery covers an area of 615 square metres and is enclosed by a red brick wall.

His loved ones placed notices in the Liverpool Echo on 26th November 1918:

“Turton - In ever-loving memory of my dear husband, Joseph Edward (Joe), “Pals”, 18th K.L.R., killed in France, November 26, 1916. Never forgotten and so sadly missed by his sorrowing Wife.”

“Turton - In loving memory of my dear brother Private J.E. Turton (Joe), 18th K.L.R., who was killed in France November 26, 1916. Fondly remembered by his sister and all at 5, Orrell Lane, Aintree.”

His father died, aged 69, on the 31st May 1918, living at 107 Chatsworth Avenue, and was buried on the 5th June at Kirkdale Cemetery.

Probate:-

TURTON Isaac of 107 Chatsworth-avenue, Orrell Park Liverpool bootmaker died 31 May 1918 Probate Liverpool 10 August to Richard Thomas Turton bootmaker. Effects £460 10s.

Further family notices were placed in the Liverpool Echo on 26th November 1918;

“Turton - In ever-loving memory of my dear husband, Joseph Edward (Joe), “Pals”, 18th K.L.R., killed in France, November 26, 1916. Never forgotten and so sadly missed by his sorrowing Wife.”

Also in the Liverpool Daily Post on Friday 27th December 1918;

TURTON - In loving memory of our dear mother, MARIA TURTON, who passed away December 25. 1915. Also our dear brother, Private J. E. TURTON, K.L.R., who died November 26, 1916. (United.) - Blanche and Dick.

He earned his two medals.

His widow Catherine Brownlie Turton at 205 Rice Lane, received his Army effects, Army Pay £3 0s 9d, a War Gratuity of £9, and a pension of 13/9d a week, increased to £1 a week in 1919.

On the 1921 Census she was living at 184 Walton Road, aged 38, and a stationer and newsagent.

Catherine remarried in 1937 to Isaac Smith at St Andrew’s, Cleveleys, near Preston, and in 1939 they were living at 20 Yew Tree Road, Liverpool. Isaac, was born in 1871, and was a cinema director.

In 1925 she was living again at 184 Walton Road.

Joe is commemorated on the following Memorials:

Longmoor Lane Council School

Northcote Road Council School.

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

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