James Youll Turnbull
Sergeant, 17th Battalion. Highland Light Infantry
- Register No.
- 1236 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Sergeant all Sergeants →
- Unit
- 17th Battalion. Highland Light Infantry all Highland Light Infantry VCs →
- Date of action
- 1 July 1916 on this day → all of 1916 →
- Conflict / campaign
- First World War
- London Gazette
- the 25th November 1916 on this day → all of 1916 →
- Born
- 24th December 1883 at Glasgow, Scotland
- Died
- in action on the 1st July 1916 at Authuille, France
- Award
- Posthumous all posthumous VCs →
- Memorial / grave
- at Lonsdale Cemetery, Authuille, France
- Medal held by
- unknown
Digest of citation
On the 1st July, 1916, Sergeant Turnbull's party had captured a post of some importance. The Germans immediately mounted heavy counter-attacks on the post, continuous throughout the day. Sergeant Turnbull's party was continually wiped out and replaced several times but the sergeant never wavered in his determination to hold the position. Almost single-handed, he displayed a high degree of skill and Valour during this time, knowing that the loss of the position would have been extremely serious. During a bombing attack later in the day, Sergeant Turnbull was killed
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
TURNBULL, James Youll. (reg No. 1236).
Sergeant. 17th Battalion. Highland Light Infantry.
London Gazetted on the 25th November 1916.
VC Medal's Custodian is unknown.
Born on 24th December 1883 at Glasgow, Scotland.
Killed in action on the 1st July 1916 at Authuille, France.
Memorial on grave at Lonsdale Cemetery, Authuille, France.
Digest of Citation reads: On the 1st July, 1916, Sergeant Turnbull's party had captured a post of some importance. The Germans immediately mounted heavy counter-attacks on the post, continuous throughout the day. Sergeant Turnbull's party was continually wiped out and replaced several times but the sergeant never wavered in his determination to hold the position. Almost single-handed, he displayed a high degree of skill and Valour during this time, knowing that the loss of the position would have been extremely serious. During a bombing attack later in the day, Sergeant Turnbull was killed.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: at Lonsdale Cemetery, Authuille, France
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