Sir Richard Ernest William Turner

Turner, Sir Richard Ernest William

Sir Richard Ernest William Turner, KCMG, VC, DSO, businessman and soldier (b at Québec 25 July 1871; d there 19 June 1961). In 1891 he entered his family's wholesale grocery and lumber business. During the Battle of LELIEFONTEIN on 7 Nov 1900, Turner, a lieutenant with the Royal Canadian Dragoons, won the VICTORIA CROSS for deflecting a Boer attack on the Canadian guns, though wounded in the neck and arm (see SOUTH AFRICAN WAR). In WWI Brig-Gen Turner commanded Canada's Third Brigade, assumed temporary command of the 2nd Canadian Division was promoted major-general in Sept 1915, and briefly commanded the Canadian Corps in Sept 1916. Controversy over responsibility for the St-Eloi setback in Mar-Apr 1916 deprived him of the command of the Canadian Corps. Instead he was made general officer of Canadian troops in the British Isles in Dec 1916, and was knighted and promoted to lt-gen in June 1917. He also received the Legion of Honour and the Russian White Eagle with Sword.