Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

‘By the time you receive this, you will have heard the worst news. I shall have departed this fine world of ours in the way I would have wished, fighting for a new and much better world, fit enough for all those people who are so dear to me to live in, but with no regrets ... you can rest assured that I did not stick my knee or neck out, Mum. I do not believe in that but I would take any sort of chance to get back O.K. if it were possible, and I know Curley our pilot would try his best to get us back too ... Well folks, it’s damned hard to say good bye but I shall always be near you, to help you in times of worry, so until then, and when we meet again, cheerio from your loving son.’

As written by Sergeant Albert Turner, R.A.F.V.R. and forwarded to his parents following his death in action; original accompanying letter, refers.

A poignant Bomber Command casualty’s campaign group of four awarded to Sergeant A. Turner, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, who was killed in action while serving as a Bomb Aimer in No. 218 Squadron in October 1943

1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, in their original card forwarding box addressed to ‘R.. Turner, Esq., 13 Siward Road, Tottenham, N. 17’, together with section of medal slip issuance slip to ‘1391320 Sgt. Turner’, extremely fine (4) £350-400

Albert Turner served as a Bomb Aimer in No. (Gold Coast) 218 Squadron, a Stirling unit operating out of Downham Market, Norfolk.

On the night of 8-9 October 1943, his Stirling, piloted by Flight Sergeant Eric Rogers, R.C.A.F., was ordered to attack Bremen. Nothing further was heard from pilot or crew after take-off and the aircraft crashed at 1.35 a.m. at Ebersdorff, most likely the victim of an enemy night fighter. All of the crew were buried in Becklingen War Cemetery, Germany.

Most poignantly, the recipient’s original ‘last letter’ to his parents is included, as partly quoted above and forwarded to them by the authorities following his death; written on R.A.F. note paper, 3pp., and signed ‘Bert’; also included are three wartime photographs.