Description
Queen’s South Africa, 2 bars, Transvaal, SA 1902, 16599 Private Arthur Turner, Royal Army Medical Corps, a Volunteer from Swansea who died during the war at Pretoria on 9th May 1902.
Officially impressed: “16599 Pte A. Turner. R.A.M.C.”
Confirmed on the medal roll, issued the QSA bar Transvaal, and additionally the SA 1902 bar for further service.
Arthur Turner, was a former “Spinner” born in Swansea, Wales, who signed on as a volunteer for war service with the Royal Army Medical Corps on 24th November 1901, he was a “Specially Enlisted” Volunteer.
He died during the war at Pretoria on 9th May 1902.
He had been awarded the “Volunteer Gratuity” and the “War Gratuity”, which was to be paid to his Next of Kin, “Uncle Tom” and “Aunt Beck”, it was also noted he had 2 brothers, George and Charlie who received some of his pension.
The medal had noted that he and some others on the same page had “Died on Service” having served at the “17 General Hospital, Standerton”.
The Morning Post of 13th May 1902, noted the cause of death as Enteric Fever, aka Typhoid, highly contagious especially so for exposed Hospital Workers such as Pte Turner.
Arthur is now commemorated on a few memorials, back home in Wales, he is on the Cathay Park National Memorial in Cardiff.
The RAMC Aldershot Memorial and the St John’s Ambulance District HQ Plaque, in Preston, Lancashire.
