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Sir Richard Turner in Retrospect

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Sir Richard Turner in Retrospect Canadian Military History Volume 6 Issue 2 Article 3 1997 “The Dashing Subaltern”: Sir Richard Turner in Retrospect Thomas P. Leppard University of Calgary Follow this and additional works at: https://scholars.wlu.ca/cmh Part of the Military History Commons Recommended Citation Leppard, Thomas P. "“The Dashing Subaltern”: Sir Richard Turner in Retrospect." Canadian Military History 6, 2 (1997) This Article is brought to you for free and open access by Scholars Commons @ Laurier. It has been accepted for inclusion in Canadian Military History by an authorized editor of Scholars Commons @ Laurier. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Leppard: “The Dashing Subaltern”: Sir Richard Turner in Retrospect ''The Dashing Subaltern'' Sir Richard Turner in Retrospect Thomas P. Leppard hen war came to Canada in August 1914, Hughes appointed in 1914, Arthur Currie. From Wthousands rallied to the call to arms. the start, Currie and Turner were the front Colonel Sam Hughes the charismatic and runners to become the Canadian Corps' first controversial Minister of Militia and Defence indigenous GOC: a race the talented Currie won scrapped his department's meticulous plans for easily in June 1917. Currie's impressive mobilizing the nation's militia and assumed battlefield record has made him the favourite of control with amazing, albeit fortuitous, results. Canadian historians ever since.5 Turner, however, By September, 33,000 recruits were training at has become a historical castaway. A peripheral the hastily constructed Camp Valcartier, Quebec. figure in several histories, Turner has yet to be A month later the first contingent of the legendary the subject of a single biography, thesis or Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) sailed for article. 6 Considering his spectacular feats, England (the largest military force ever to cross defeats and memorable controversies, he the Atlantic up to that time). 1 deserves better. Hughes wanted a Canadian, preferably Richard Turner was born in Quebec City 25 himself, to command the CEF but the British July 1871 to Emily Marie Turner and the Commander-in-Chief, Lord Kitchener, told Honourable Richard Turner, a prominent Quebec Hughes that the inexperienced Canadians needed businessman and Tory politician. Raised in a veteran General Officer Commanding (GOC) middle-class Victorian affluence, Turner at the helm. To his credit, Hughes shelved his attended several private grammar schools before antipathy towards professional British officers graduating from Quebec City High School in and selected Lieutenant-General Sir Edwin 1889. Two years later he entered the family firm Alderson from Kitchener's short list of British of Whitehead and Turner, Wholesale Grocers and generals. 2 However, Hughes insisted that Lumber Merchants, which he inherited in 1928.7 Canadians must command the nation's infantry His military career began in 1892 when, like brigades and Kitchener acquiesced. The many affluent and ambitious young gentlemen Minister's first choice was one of Canada's best of his generation Turner joined the Canadian known soldiers -Richard Ernest William Turner; militia, commissioning as a subaltern in the lOth a successful Montreal business man, Tory hack Queen's Own Canadian Hussars. Aided by Tory and Boer war hero, where he had earned a patronage and nepotism Turner advanced reputation for reckless bravery and fiery courage rapidly. In 1895 he made captain and major in in battle.3 Turner commanded the 1st Canadian 1900. That same year he went to war.8 Division's 3rd Brigade at St. Julien in 1915, the 2nd Canadian Division at St. Eloi and the Within days of the outbreak of war between Somme in 1916 and, thereafter, Canada's Forces Britain and Paul Kruger's Boers, Prime Minster in England. 4 Wilfrid Laurier authorized the despatch of a volunteer force to South Mrica.9 Eager to "have Turner ended the War Canada's senior a go" at the Boers, Turner could only secure a ranking general, yet his career has been berth to the Transvaal by accepting a demotion overshadowed by another brigadier-general to lieutenant in the Royal Canadian Dragoons ©Canadian Military History, Volume 6, Number 2, Autumn 1997, pp.21-28. 21 Published by Scholars Commons @ Laurier, 1997 1 Canadian Military History, Vol. 6 [1997], Iss. 2, Art. 3 Officers of "B" Squadron, Royal Canadian Dragoons, ca.1900. Seated (l. to r.): Major V.A.S. Williams, Captain H.S. Greenwood. Standing (l. tor.): Lieutenant H.L Borden, Lieutenant C. T. Van Straubenzie and Lieutenant R.E. W. Thrner. (RCD). On reaching the Cape, the regiment was Cockburn, a brother RCD officer, reacted assigned to Brigadier-General Edwin Alderson's instantly and formed a skirmish line that Mounted Infantry Brigade. 10 momentarily deflected the Boer onslaught. Killed or captured to a man, Cockburn's sacrifice Turner served with great distinction in South bought Turner enough time to extricate the guns. Mrica. He fought in at least eight major actions, But the Boers were soon in hot pursuit. A fierce was decorated twice, seriously wounded three running fight ensued. Turner's Colt machine times and was mentioned in despatches. This gunner, Sergeant E. Holland, courageously gained him a reputation for reckless bravery and manned his limber-mounted weapon until made him a darling of the Canadian public.U surrounded. Showing great presence, he then His first decoration, the Distinguished Service calmly lifted the gun from its mount and, cradling Order, was won in May 1900 near Pretoria for it like a football, grabbed a riderless horse and "swimming the [Viet] river at a crucial juncture galloped away. The jubilant Boers, believing at 12 in the face of the enemy." Turner along with first they had captured the gun, swarmed the fellow RCD officer Harold Borden (Robert carriage. Finding the weapon gone, they resumed Borden's nephew) and five men swam their the chase. 15 mounts, under fire, across the river and drove off an estimated 30 Boers. 16 In September, while The rugged Transvaal ponies quickly closed serving as an intelligence officer near the gap because the horses towing the Canadian Wonderfonstein, Transvaal, Turner received the field guns became • blown' and slowed to a walk. first of three serious gunshot wounds. Recovering With Boers swirling all about, Turner ignored a quickly, he rejoined the RCD near Lillefontein severe gunshot wound to his left arm and in November. 14 dismounted a dozen troopers for a desperate last stand. 16 Just then, he was hit again, this time in On 7 November 1900 Turner was part of a the neckY Trooper A.E. Hilder, a member of rear guard, that included two twelve pound field the rear guard, vividly recounted what happened guns of "D" Battery, Royal Canadian Field next: Artillery, protecting General Smith-Dorrien's column when they were ambushed by 200 Boers. The guns were in grave danger of being captured. Badly outnumbered, Lieutenant H.A.C. Lieutenant Turner galloped up and shouted, 22 https://scholars.wlu.ca/cmh/vol6/iss2/3 2 Leppard: “The Dashing Subaltern”: Sir Richard Turner in Retrospect "Dismount and hold back the enemy!" I Camp to His Majesty King George V, and in March remember him distinctly saying "Never let it be 1912 Turner ended two decades of militia service said the Canadians had let their guns be taken." transferring to the Reserve of Officers. It proved Again Lieutenant Turner galloped up, now 24 seriously wounded in the neck and his arm a short - lived retirement. shattered ... But, the important thing was, the guns had been saved by the stubborn resistance On 1 June 1914 Turner returned to the active of the R.C.D. 18 service list retaining his previous rank of colonel at the behest of his friend, Sam Hughes. 25 As The episode reads like something out of early as 1912 Hughes had predicted that war Kipling. The handsome young subaltern, with Germany was inevitable and that Canada fearlessly defying death and the Queen's enemies must be ready to stand with Britain. In the spring to rally his men and save the guns. A grateful of 1914 he publicly declared that war was British High Command, still smarting because imminent. Events soon confirmed his prophecy. 26 of the guns lost at Colenso, 19 awarded Turner, Holland and Cockburn, the Victoria Cross.20 On 6 August 1914, two days after Britain Turner's citation reflected the High Commands' declared war on Germany, Sam Hughes made 'gun loss' angst; Turner the CEF's first brigade commander. Sam's son Garnet, Turner's close friend, was named On 7th November 1900, near Lillefonteln, two his Brigade Major. Hughes patronage guns of the British column, rear guard to a convoy, were attacked by an overwhelming force notwithstanding, Turner's credentials were of Boers, Endeavors were made to extricate the impeccable. Of the Canadian brigadiers who guns but with Boers following in pursuit in large Hughes appointed, Turner alone had experience numbers, the horses of the guns became very in both combat and brigade command. 27 At the exhausted and came down to a walk. Lieutenant age of 43, Turner was embarking on the challenge Turner with a part of the Royal Canadian of his life, not as an adventure-seeking militia Dragoons, although twice wounded, gallantly dismounted his men and from his personal subaltern fighting Boer kommandos but as the initiative, succeeded in saving the guns. 21 brigadier of four thousand raw recruits about to face the world's foremost fighting machine- the Invalided home, Turner arrived in Quebec Germany Army.28 City to a hero's welcome. On 1 7 September he received the Victoria Cross from the heir When the first contingent reached England apparent, Edward, Duke ofYork. The investiture, in October 1914 they were an army in name only.
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