Richard Dacre Turton
Richard Dacre Turton was born on 21 July 1897 in Great Yarmouth. His father was the Reverend Zouch Horace Turton who, for 25 years, was vicar of St Mary's, Southtown in Great Yarmouth. His mother was Alice Clara Elizabeth née Austin.
Richard had 5 older siblings:-
1886 Zouch Austin
1888 Dorothy Olive
1889 Neville Harry
1891 Reginald Wentworth
1893 Beryl Alice
He also had a younger sibling:-
1902 Kenneth Arvan
In addition, a sister, Edith Mary, had been born in 1899 but she died the same year.
The family lived at 256 Southtown Road, Great Yarmouth with 3 live-in servants.
Richard was educated at Great Yarmouth Grammar School and, later, at St John's School in Leatherhead where he was a member of their O.T.C.
On 22 September 1914, aged 17, he was gazetted 2nd Lieutenant, The York and Lancaster Regiment.
On 23 April 1915, his older brother Lieutenant, Zouch Austin Turton, was killed in action leading his men into an attack at the Second Battle of Ypres
On 1 July 1916, Richard was promoted to Lieutenant. He served in France and Flanders from December 1915 and, in 1916, took part in the Battle of the Somme. He was made Acting Captain.
Early in 1917, he was recommended for a permanent commission in the Indian Army but the medical board did not pass consider his health as fit enough for service in India. So, he returned to his regiment at the Front.
On 20 September 1917, the battalion moved into the Blue Line near Jasper Trench, just off the Menin Road.
They were shelled for the next few days and, on 24 September 1917, Richard was killed in action in the Battle of Polygon Wood, during the Third Battle of Ypres.
He was buried at the Huts Cemetery near Dickebusch.
Lieutenant Richard Dacre Turton 9th (Service) Battalion, The York and Lancaster Regiment