TURNER, Frank Gordon

Frank, the fifth son of Charles and Harriot Turner, was born at Brodies Plains in 1897. The family lived at their property ‘Ascot’ north of Inverell.  He was a farmer, aged eighteen years, when he enlisted in December 1915 and agreed to serve from 12 January 1916. On that day he left Inverell as one of the First Contingent of The Kurrajongs, a group of 114 men recruited from Inverell and District. His elder brother, Ernest, had already joined up and had departed from Australia.

Frank served with the 33rd Battalion in France.  He was wounded in action in July 1917 and rejoined his unit six weeks later.  He was promoted to Lance Corporal on 24 October 1917.  The following April he was gassed and sent back to England for treatment.  Rejoining his unit in October 1918 he remained in France until after the end of the war, returning to Australia on the troopship ‘Borda’ in May 1919.  Frank was discharged on 12 August 1919.

In 1922 he married Thelma Dundas, daughter of long time Nullamanna residents Robert Dundas and Fanny McCrea.  The couple set up home on the property ‘Taringa’ on the Ashford Road and had four children, Gladys, Daphne, Rob and Gordon.  Frank (or Gordon as he was commonly known) remained at ‘Taringa’ until two weeks prior to his death on 10 February 1973.

Private Frank Turner has his name inscribed on the Inverell Honor Roll and the Nullamanna Honor Roll.

Photo and story contributed by family