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WORLD WAR ONE

The Men Who Died

WORLD WAR ONE

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He had been training there prior to receiving his commission and returning to the front.

His body was brought back to Brecon for burial and there was a most impressive procession from the barracks to the cemetery. It was watched by hundreds of people and many houses and businesses showed signs of mourning.

Will's younger brother Fred served with the Brecknocks in India.

William (Will) was born in Kingston on Thames in 1891, the eldest son of Charles Turner and his wife, Sarah Jane, (nee Price), His father was steward of the Brecon County Club for many years. Will attended Brecon County School between 1911 and 1912 before he trained in the motor trade at Sulleys in Cardiff and for some time worked alongside Bentfield Hucks who was later a famous aviator. Will was for a short while in business in Brecon.

He became the first Breconian to join the Army Flying Corps in January 1914 after passing War Office tests, and served at the Flying Corps Headquarters in Farnborough. He obtained his pilot's licence in May 1914 at Central Flying Club in Upavon and was in the first Royal Flying Corps squadron to go to France in August that year, sailing from Newhaven.

He wrote home in October to tell of his experience in France including having his plane riddled with bullets, and another time having a bullet hole in his fuel tank that he plugged with his finger. Will spent 16 months in France before returning to England in Nov 1915 to become an aero engineer mechanic, and passed at aero school to get his wings. He was qualifying for a first class pilot certificate when accidentally killed while flying at Rendcombe Aerodrome in Cirencester.

Sergeant William Charles Turner

Royal Flying Corps, 38th Training Squadron, service no.

1022

Died June 3rd, 1917, aged 26

Buried in Brecon Cemetery