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Auction: 23003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 285

'A splendid example both of devotion to duty and that of indifference to their own injuries when a sore wounded comrade requires their help, which has characterised our brave men from the beginning of the war, was given at Fleurbaix, near Armentiers, on November 9th, 1914, during that ominous lull in the First Battle of Ypres, which preceeded the great effort of the Prussian Guard.

About four o'clock in the afternoon, Serjeant Charles Leonard Tuersley, of the 1st Royal Fusiliers, was in command of a platoon distributed among six echelon trenches, when a German battery which he was unable to locate, began shelling them heavily. Having been sniped during the morning, Tuersley had put his cap on the handle of an entrenching tool, which he stuck in the parapet, in order to give the snipers, who were concealed in a cabbage-patch and in houses between the lines, something to waste their ammunition upon. One shell only just missed this, and Tuersley, who was sitting in the trench below his property, found himself half buried beneath the debris of the parapet, which was blown in on top of him. As he was working his way out, he heard a man calling him from a trench on his left front. He ran round, and was told that one of his section commanders, Corporal Tanner, had had half his leg nearly blown off by a piece of shell. Tuersley saw at once that the unfortunate corporal would very soon bleed to death if steps were not immediately taken to stop the flow of blood, and began looking about him for something of which to make a tourniquet, but could see nothing likely to serve his purpose, until his eye fell upon a pipe which one of the men happened to be smoking.

Taking the bowl of the pipe and a handkerchief, Tuersley was just bending over the wounded man to apply the tourniquet, when a shell burst right in the trench. The artillery observer had his head blown off and was buried beneath a deluge of earth, whilr Tuersley got two pieces in the back, another man a piece in the spine, and a third one through the heel of his boot. The corporal would undoubtedly been wounded again had not Tuersley been bending over him.

Although bleeding freely and in great pain, the brave serjeant did not trouble about his own wounds, being aware that his comrade's case was one of life and death, and that the slightest delay would be fatal, and applying the tourniquet to the artery near the groin, he managed to stop the bleeding.

This done, he ran across the open to his company-officer, and reported all that had happened. The officer wanted him to remain and have his wounds attended to, but Tuersley felt that he could not leave his men, whose nerves were becoming shaken by the terrific shelling to which they were being subjected.

And so he went back, accompanied by two men to assist in getting the corporal away. Nor was it until he had seen his wounded comrade removed, that he felt at liberty to think of his own hurts, and ask one of his men to bind them up. Scarcely had this been done, than he fainted from loss of blood; but as soon as consciousness returned, though so weak that he could scarcely walk, he insisted on returning to his own trench, and it was only with difficulty that he was at length persuaded to go to the Field Ambulance.

Sergeant Charles Leonard Tuersley was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal, and promoted to the rank of Company Quartermaster-Sergeant, while he has recently, we understand, been recommended for a commission. He is thirty years of age, and is one of six brothers now serving King and Country on land or sea. His home is at Marylebone, London.

Sergeant Tuersley running to assist a wounded Corporal, half of whose leg had been blown off by a shell'.

On working his way out of the debris of a parapet at Fleurbaix in which he had been buried on the afternoon of November 9th 1914, Sergeant Charles Leonard Tuersley, of the 1st Royal Fusiliers, heard a man calling from a trench near by. On running round he found that a section commander, Corporal Tanner, had had half of his leg blown off. Sergeant Tuersley at once applied an improvised tourniquet, but while he was bending over the wounded man a shell burst near by. Two pieces struck the Sergeant in the back, but though bleeding freely he continued to attend to his comrade. He refused to retire for treatment until the wounded Corporal had been removed. For his conspicuous gallantry Sergeant Tuersley was awarded the D.C.M'.

Deeds That Thrill the Empire recalls Serjeant C. L. Tuersley's bravery.

A fine 'Battle of Armentieres 1914' D.C.M. group of five awarded to Serjeant C. L. Tuersley, 1st Battalion Royal Fusiliers, for his gallant conduct near Fleurbaix on 9 November 1914, when his trench received a direct hit during a period of intense and prolonged enemy bombardment

Despite being severely wounded by the explosion, Tuersley rendered first aid to a dangerously wounded man, thereby saving his life

After reporting the situation to his officer, he returned to his trench in spite of the serious nature of his own wounds and remained with his men throughout the remainder of the bombardment until supports arrived

Details of Tuersley's gallant conduct on the 9th November 1914 are featured in 'Deeds That Thrill The Empire'

Distinguished Conduct Medal G.V.R. (8239 Sjt: C. Tuersley. 1/R. Fus.); 1914 Star, clasp (L-8239 Sjt C. L. Tuersley. 1/R. Fus.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Lieut. C. L. Tuersley.); Delhi Durbar 1911, unnamed as issued, traces of verdegris, good very fine (5)

D.C.M., London Gazette, 1 April 1915:

'For gallant conduct and ability on 9 November 1914, near Fleurbaix, whilst attending on a wounded man he was himself severely wounded, but remained with his men very gallantly until assistance arrived'

Charles Leonard Tuersley was born on the 11 March 1885 at Paddington, Middlesex, the youngest of seven children born to Thomas and Elizabeth Tuersley. Recorded in the 1891 Census, he was residing with his family in 'the stables and room above' No 49 Arthur Mews, Paddington, London, where his father's occupation is given as 'Groom and Coachman'.

The Army Gradation List for 1918, confirms that Tuersley attested for service with the Royal Fusiliers in September 1901, on which date he would have been 16 years old. Posted to the 2nd Battalion, he served with them in India, being one of 13 Officers and 108 men who represented the 2nd Battalion at the Coronation Durbar at Delhi in 1911. He was later presented with the Delhi Durbar Medal to mark the occasion.

Tuersley is recorded in the 1911 Census, serving as Corporal in the 2nd Battalion Royal Fusiliers, which at the time was stationed at Hugh Rose Barracks, Jubbelpore, India. His trade or occupation is given as 'Musician'. A member of the 2nd Battalion's shooting team, he won the Empire Challenge Cup in 1912, a trophy competed for each year by 153 battalions across the Empire. Transferring to the Army Reserve in 1913 on completion of his first period of service, he was recalled on the outbreak of war and posted to the 1st Battalion which was then on home service. The 2nd Battalion was at that time still serving in India.

The 1st Battalion Royal Fusiliers was stationed at Kinsale, Ireland, in August 1914 having been previously assigned to the 17th Infantry Brigade, 6th Division. Serjeant Charles Tuersley is confirmed as having disembarked with the 1st Battalion, at St Nazaire between the 7-8 September 1914.

Tuersley was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his gallant conduct and ability on 9 November 1914, near Fleurbaix, when the trench he was occupying received a direct hit from an enemy shell. Despite the prolonged and intense bombardment, he attended a dangerously wounded man although he himself was severely wounded. In spite of his wound he remained with his men until assistance arrived. The award of the D.C.M. was announced in the London Gazette dated the 16 February 1915, and the citation was published in the edition of the 1 April 1915.

The Battalion War Diary (WO 95/1613) for the 9 November recorded:

'Enemy commenced shelling about 11 am. One shell had a direct hit on a trench, killed gunner's observer and wounded 3 other ranks. No 9725 Cpl Tanner (since died of his wounds) was badly hit. No 8239 Sjt C. Teursley went to his assistance and was then wounded himself but continued to assist Cpl Tanner though the enemy continued to shell the trench. He then went to his Company Commander for orders and was told to move into another trench. Sjt Tuersley displayed great coolnes and courage. No 11986 Sjt Kernott and No 6151 Cpl Wright brought the wounded man to the aid post under fire'.

Evacuated to the UK on 9 November, Tuersley's name was published in the official War Office Casualty List under date 2 December 1914. He returned to France in May 1915 and was present with the 1st Battalion at the Battle of Loos on the 25 September 1915, where his lifelong chum Mark Goff was killed. The following letter written by Tuersley to Goff's mother was published in 'The Dorking and Leatherhead Advertiser' dated 9 October 1915:

'Today I posted a letter for Mark to you, and I hope you received it safely. If you have had a good look at the papers during the last few days you may be somewhat anxious on his behalf, especially as you know which section of ground is held by the Royal Fusiliers. What I have to tell you is not in any way the news I should like to impart to anyone, especially to a mother, but I think it is better than the awful suspense of not hearing from anyone near and dear out there. I only wish that the worst I had to tell you was that he is wounded, but he is beyond all help. I have been with him during the whole of his soldiering. We were boys together and went to India together. During the last few months I have been with him daily, and know him as I know myself. On the 25th September, in conjunction with the recent advance, we did our share (which I am not at liberty to tell you), and for two hours we were heavily shelled. It was early in the bombardment that Mark had a shell explode near to him, and I believe it was the force of the explosion which killed him. He was in no way disabled, except a small piece of shell in his shoulder. He died instantaneously, thank God, and had no suffering or pain whatsoever. He looked his old self, and a pleasant smile must have been on his face when he died. We buried him with all sympathy and honour. We feel his loss greatly, both as a companion and as a soldier, because it is no secret that he was our best Platoon Sergeant. I join in with the whole platoon and company in expressing to you our most heartfelt sympathy in your great loss.'

Tuersley was commissioned Second Lieutenant 'for services in the field' with effect from 13 December 1915, and returned to the UK in June 1916. Promoted Lieutenant on the 1 July 1917, he remained on Home Service for the remainder of the war, serving with both the 5th (Reserve) and 6th (Reserve) Battalions Royal Fusiliers. Lieutenant Tuersley was presented His D.C.M. by Brigadier General E. Bickford at Dover on the 6 May 1917, as reported in The Dover Express dated 11 May 1917.

The War Services of Officers of the Army notes that Tuersley was mentioned in despatches and although his medal index card confirms the issue of the M.I.D. Emblem this has not been verified. Tuersley was placed on half-pay on 3 May 1922 on the grounds of ill-health contracted on active service and retired with effect from 23 August 1922.

He married Elizabeth Hainsworth at the Emmanuel Church, Maida Hill on 26 March 1921, the register recording his occupation as 'Lieutenant Royal Fusiliers'. He is also recorded on the 1939 Register, residing at Frinton, Coldharbour Lane, Bushey, where his occupation is given as 'Clerk-Wholesale Millinery'. The register records the date of his birth as 3 April 1885 which differs from that recorded in the Army List - 11 March 1885. The Register also provides the additional description: 'Lieutenant Royal Fusiliers - Disabled and Retired - No 92617'. Charles Leonard Tuersley died at Portsmouth in 1968, aged 83 years.

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Sold for
£1,600

Starting price
£800