James Youll Turnbull
Encyclopedia
James Youll Turnbull VC
(24 December 1883 - 1 July 1916) was a Scottish
recipient of the Victoria Cross
, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British
and Commonwealth
forces.
Before World War I, he played rugby for Cartha Queens Park RFC
and was a member of the 3rd Battalion of the Lanarkshire
Rifle Volunteers.
He was a sergeant
in the 17th Battalion (Glasgow Commercials), The Highland Light Infantry, British Army
during the Battle of the Somme
in First World War
. On 1 July 1916, Turnbull was awarded the VC for his actions at Leipzig Salient, Authuille
, France
, where Turnbull's party captured a post of apparent importance, and defended it "almost single-handed[ly]". Later in the day he was killed while engaged in a bombing counter-attack. He was 32 years old.
, France in Plot IV, Row G, Grave 9.
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
(24 December 1883 - 1 July 1916) was a Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
recipient of the Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and Commonwealth
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
forces.
Before World War I, he played rugby for Cartha Queens Park RFC
Cartha Queens Park RFC
The Cartha Queens Park Rugby Football Club is a rugby union side based in Glasgow in Scotland. The club was founded in 1906 and play their home games at Dumbreck and are currently in Premiership Division Three. The club runs four adult XVs catering for all abilities and levels of experience...
and was a member of the 3rd Battalion of the Lanarkshire
Lanarkshire
Lanarkshire or the County of Lanark ) is a Lieutenancy area, registration county and former local government county in the central Lowlands of Scotland...
Rifle Volunteers.
He was a sergeant
Sergeant
Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
in the 17th Battalion (Glasgow Commercials), The Highland Light Infantry, British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
during the Battle of the Somme
Battle of the Somme (1916)
The Battle of the Somme , also known as the Somme Offensive, took place during the First World War between 1 July and 14 November 1916 in the Somme department of France, on both banks of the river of the same name...
in First World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. On 1 July 1916, Turnbull was awarded the VC for his actions at Leipzig Salient, Authuille
Authuille
Authuille is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France....
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, where Turnbull's party captured a post of apparent importance, and defended it "almost single-handed[ly]". Later in the day he was killed while engaged in a bombing counter-attack. He was 32 years old.
Citation
Turnbull's grave is located at Lonsdale Cemetery, (four miles north of Albert) AuthuilleAuthuille
Authuille is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France....
, France in Plot IV, Row G, Grave 9.