Private Papers of K N Turner

A collection of items relating to his service as an NCO in A Squadron, 1st Battalion Royal Tank Regiment (RTR), Royal Armoured Corps (RAC) and later 7 Troop, B Squadron 12th Battalion RTR, RAC, and comprising two ms pocket diaries (1940 – 1941, but continuing to January 1942), detailing his travelling to Egypt via France and Malta (January 1940), moving from Alexandria to Cairo where his unit split up, firing ranges (February 1940), swimming in Heliopolis and Alexandria, his thoughts on the battles in France and Belgium, the declaration of war by Italy, the French armistice and the effects on morale in Egypt (May – June 1940), sickness in hospital, promotion to Lance Corporal (July 1940), training in new cruiser tanks, taking part in Operation Compass (December 1940), advancing through Sidi Barrani and Sollum, the lack of food and water in the desert, seeing Italian prisoners of war, heavy shelling, crossing into Libya, hearing the attacks on Bardia (January 1941), details of his duties including guard duty, cookhouse duty and camouflaging ammo dumps, describing the 'shooting party' in the desert, enemy planes attacking roads (February 1941), travelling East through Tobruk, Sidi Barani and Mersa Matruh to Cairo, starting a Wireless Operator course (March 1941), digging trenches after German advances (April 1941), sailing via Mombassa, Kenya, and Durban, to Cape Town, South Africa (May – June 1941) going out with girlfriends, moving Italian and German prisoners of war between ships, sailing on to Trinidad (July – August 1941) docking off Belize then Trinidad, sailing to Gourock, Glasgow, moving to a camp in Tidworth, Wiltshire before going on home leave, his breaking up with a girlfriend, promotion to acting Corporal, and posting to 12th Battalion RTR, at Colchester, with new Mark IV Churchill Tanks (September 1941), going on a gunnery course, and learning he was moving to B Squadron (January 1942). Also 16 ms letters (62pp, some undated) to his mother and brother, the first batch from his time with A Squadron, 1st RTR in Egypt (March 1940 – July 1940) with descriptions of leave in Cairo, his job running the Battalion accounts and organising entertainments, his reactions to the news from Norway and France, a detailed letter (March 1941) written on captured Italian paper, relating his squadron's penetration into Libya and the capture of Italian tanks and lorries, witnessing dead soldiers and civilians, another batch of letters while with B Squadron, 12th Battalion RTR based at Stobs Camp, Hawick, then Cumnock, Ayrshire, Scotland (n.d. – May 1942), with details of training schemes, letters from on board LCT 168 off the Isle of Arran (n.d.), with details of the journey to North Africa, and another graphic letter sent via the American Red Cross from 64th Station Hospital following his wounding by mortar fire at Cactus Farm, Tunisia, whilst rescuing a wounded man and trying to repair his tank (April 1943) with details of his broken jaw and shrapnel wounds, treatment and his transfer to American hospitals. The letters and diaries also give other details about concerts, shows, and films he had seen, the weather and accommodation. Together with; a ms letter from his sister to his mother (4pp, September 1939); a ms letter from his mother (2pp plus envelope) relieved that he was recovering after his wounding (June 1943); a commendation certificate signed by Lieutenant General Kenneth Anderson, Commander First Army (1p), with a ts covering letter from Lieutenant Colonel J C E Harding MC (1p) giving details of the incident during the attack on Cactus Farm for which it was awarded; leave passes (1939); a ms letter (3pp) from a friend (Squadron Sergeant Major Devlin DCM) who had been captured and escaped from a Prisoner of War camp (September 1946); six Italian postcards four of which were to a Capp Magg Federico Troisi, which Turner had picked up (1940); a menu from HMT EMPIRE TROOPER; a programme (19pp) for the Blue Pencil Revue show (June [?]); three Algerian and Italian bank notes; 14 photographs of Turner, his mother, brother and sister, and 7 Troop, B Squadron 12th Battalion, RTR (1942); correspondence from the National Savings Movement about the Winchester and District Salute the Soldier Week which Sergeant Turner took part in (April 1944); papers (4pp) relating to his War Pension and his War Disablement Deterioration Claim (1992); and correspondence with the CWGC and the Tank Museum, Bovington Camp (1987 – 1991) including copies of extracts from the 12th RTR War Diary (April – May 1943) and appendices (40pp).

Cataloguer SJO