Thatcham
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| ID: | WB271 |
| UKNIWM: | |
| Location: | St Mary's Church |
| OS Map Ref: | SU516672 |
| Description: | Marble plaque |
Inscription:
To the Glory of God and in loving memory of / Alexander Buller Turner VC / 2nd Lieut Royal Berkshire Regt born 22nd May 1893 / wounded in action at Vermelles whe he was / awarded the Victoria Cross. Died 1st Oct 1915 aged 22 / buried in the military cemetery Chocques France / Love - Joy - Peace - Longsuffering - Gentleness - Goodness - Faith
What the papers said:
Memorial Tablet – Dedication Service, 3 Oct 1917.
Newbury Weekly News, 11 Oct 1917
Memorial Tablet Dedicated to 2nd Lieut Alex B Turner, VC.
On Wednesday afternoon, October 3rd, a solemn service was held in St Mary's Parish Church, Thatcham. The occasion was the unveiling and dedicating of a tablet to the memory of the late 2nd Lieut Alex B Turner, VC. This has been placed upon the north wall, and is a beautiful work of art, and chaste in design. It was the work of Messrs Powell, Whitefriars, and bears the crest of the 1st and 3rd Battalions of the Royal Berkshire Regiment. The inscription reads as follows:- "To the Glory of God, and in loving memory of Alexander Buller Turner, VC, 2nd Lieut Royal Berkshire Regiment. Born 22nd May, 1893. Wounded in action at Vermelles, when he was ararded the Victoria Cross. Died 1st October, 1915, aged 22 years. Buried in the Military Cemetery, Choques, France." And underneath the words:- Love, Joy, Peace, Long-suffering, Gentleness, Goodness, Faith.
The service was attended by Major and Lrs C Turner, Thatcham House (parents of the heroic officer), Miss Turner (sister), and Lieut C B Turner, RN, Mr Victor and Master Mark Turner, and the following officers, NCOs and men of the Royal Berkshire Regt, friends and comrades of 2nd Lieut Turner, Captain Macphail, Lieuts Fullerton, Chase, and Freeman, Sergt-Major Gash, Sergts Smith, Walter and Wanklyn, and Pts Neat and Marshall. There were also present Captain Waring (late 11th Hussars), and Mrs Waring, Rev J and Mrs Bushnell, Rev H Rees-Mogg, Miss Tull, Mrs Amrstrong, Mrs Bramwell Davis, Dr Martin, Mr Arthur Brown, and many others.
A special order of service was used, commencing with the hymn "Through the night of doubt and sorrow." The lesson was taken from the Book of Wisdom, iii, 1-6. Special prayers were offered, and Psalm xxiii was sung. The dedication was solemnly performed by the Rev the Hon Reginald Yarde-Butler, who also offered the the special collects. The actual unveiling was undertaken by Catain L W Bird, DSO, who was in command of the 1st Batt Royal Berks on the 28th September, 1915.
The concluding hymn was "For all the Saints who from their labours rest," immediately following which the National Anthem was sung. The Rev E Chamberlaine (vicar), and the Rev H R Higgs (curate) both took part in the service. The chior was in attendance, and Mr G J Fyfield, ARCO, who was at the organ, played "Blest are the departed" (Spohr's "Last Judgement") as the congregation gathered, and "I know that my Redeemer liveth," at the conclusion of the service. The flag was at half-mast upon the church tower.
Find a memorial :
| Died this day: | |
| 20 April 1946 | |
| Arthur Fisher | |
| Lambourn |
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