Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A scarce Great War 1916 Somme ‘Warrant Officer’s’ M.C. group of four awarded to Acting Regimental Sergeant Major R. Turnbull, 6th (Service) Battalion, King’s Own Scottish Borderers, for gallantry at Bernafay Wood and Longueval. He was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the 13th Battalion, Rifle Brigade, and was killed in action by a bomb dropped from a German aircraft whilst assembling for an attack on the Somme, 25 August 1918

Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued, in damaged Royal Mint case of issue; 1914-15 Star (12159 Cpl. (A. Sjt) R. Turnbull. K.O. Sco. Bord.); British War and Victory Medals (2. Lieut. R. Turnbull.) generally good very fine or better (4) £1,600-£2,000

M.C. London Gazette 1 January 1917.

The following citation was published in the Berwick Advertiser:

‘He took over the Battalion Sergt. Major’s duties in Bernafay Wood on 7 July 1916, a time when casualties in officers and NCOs had been very heavy. He assisted the company officers left to keep the companies together under an intense bombardment. At Longueval on 19th July, he took over command of a company when all the officers had become casualties, collected stragglers , reorganised them into sections and maintained his position for his defence until the Battalion was withdrawn. An NCO of outstanding merit!’

Robert ‘Bertie’ Turnbull was born in 1889, the son of Michael Turnbull, a Master Mariner from Berwick upon Tweed. He was educated at the Corporation Academy, and was one of a well known family of Freemen of the Borough. Turnbull attested for the 1st Battalion, King’s Own Scottish Borderers in 1907, and was serving with them in India at the outbreak of the Great War. He transferred to the 6th (Service) Battalion, and served with them in the French theatre of war from 12 May 1915.

Turnbull served with the Battalion during the Battle of Loos, and was wounded in action. He served with the Battalion as part of the 27th Brigade, 9th (Scottish) Division on the Somme, July - October 1916. Turnbull was awarded the M.C. for his gallantry on the 7th and 19th July. The Battalion’s first active roll in the battle came on 3 July, when they were ordered to join the 12th Royal Scots in an attack on Bernafay Wood scheduled to commence at 9pm. By 11.30 they had succeeded in capturing the wood with minimal losses. However, a counter-barrage opened up and continued unabated for four days. On 6 July, Regimental Sergeant Major Britton was wounded, and Company Sergeant Major Turnbull took over as Battalion RSM. By the 8th, the wood was clear and the Battalion was withdrawn - having suffered casualties of 16 officers and 300 other ranks over the course of 6 days in the wood.

The Battalion attacked the north end of Longueval and the north-west corner of Delville Wood on 17 July 1916. The attack was unsuccessful, and they were in action again at Longueval two days later. The Battalion was heavily shelled on the 19th, losing a further 6 officers and 120 men. Turnbull took over the command of ‘D’ Company when all its officers had become casualties. By the end of the day the strength of the Battalion’s companies were as follows: ‘A’ Company - 1 officer, 1 NCO, and 20 men; ‘B’ Company - 1 officer and 50 men; ‘C’ Company - 1 officer and 6 men; ‘D’ Company - no officers, Turnbull and 29 men. The Battalion’s overall strength being 3 officers and 107 other ranks.

Turnbull attended Officer Cadet Training at No. 16 Officer Cadet Battalion, Kimmel Park in Spring 1917. He was commissioned Temporary Second Lieutenant in the Rifle Brigade in August 1917. Turnbull was posted for service with the 13th (Service) Battalion on the Ypres Salient in October 1917. He returned to the Somme in 1918, and was killed in action 25 August 1918. On the morning of the 25th the Battalion was holding a line about 1,500 yards west of the Arras-Bapaume Road, near Sapignies. They were ordered to push on to exploit their earlier gains. Strong patrols were sent out across the road south of Sapignies and some ground west of Favrieul was captured by 2pm. The attack on Favrieul itself was set for 6.30pm. The Battalion assembled 800 yards short of the village under cover of a shallow bank. At about zero minus 20 minutes, as they were moving to their assembly positions, the Germans put down a heavy barrage and sent over a number of aeroplanes which dropped bombs and fired their machine guns at troops and transport on the road.

Second Lieutenant Turnbull was killed by a bomb dropped from an enemy aircraft, and is buried in Achiet le Grand Communal Cemetery Extension, Pas de Calais, France. He had four other brothers, who also served during the Great War.