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Auction: 26001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 226

The superb East Africa C.M.G., 1917 D.S.O. group of thirteen awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel R. B. Turner, East African Command, late South African Administration Service and Royal Engineers, whose staggering career saw him 'mentioned' five times across both World Wars: his lifetime link to Africa began before the Anglo-Boer War and saw him remain in the country with the Department of Repatriation and Farming in Transvaal

Serving in East Africa, he ended the Great War as Assistant Quartermaster-General of G.H.Q. East African Expeditionary Force, spent the inter-war years fostering trade links between South Africa and East Africa and later served with East Africa Command

The Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, Companions (C.M.G.) neck Badge, silver-gilt and enamel; Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel; Queen's South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Elandslaagte, Defence of Ladysmith (Lieut,, R. B. Turner R.E.), officially re-engraved naming; King's South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (Lt. R. B. Turner. R.E.); 1914-15 Star (Capt. R. B. Turner S. A. Admin Serv.), stipple engraved naming, as seen in some late South African Authority issued medals; British War and Victory Medals (Lt. Col. R. B. Turner.), the rank to the BWM officially corrected, with M.I.D. oak leaves; 1939-1945 Star; Africa Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, with M.I.D. oak leaf; Jubilee 1935; Coronation 1937, mounted for wear where applicable, overall good very fine (13)

D.S.O. London Gazette 4 June 1917.

C.M.G. London Gazette 1 January 1919.

Frank Beresford Turner was born at Winchester, Hampshire on 17 March 1879, the son of Edward and Celia Turner. Educated at Winchester he travelled to South Africa as a Civilian at some stage prior to the Anglo-Boer War and volunteered for service with the Telegraphist Department. Present at the start of the war Turner is confirmed as serving through the Defence of Ladysmith, presumably having volunteered to help keep contact with the British forces beyond the Tugela River.

He worked in this capacity for some time before being commissioned Lieutenant while on service with the Army Telegraphs on 20 November 1901. This- on the face of it temporary- appointment was the start of a long career of soldiering. Immediately after the end of the war he was appointed Assistant Director of Repatriation and Farming in Transvaal, a post he held from 1903-1914.

He is listed as having served in German South West Africa however if this is the case it is as a likely with a local unit as his star appears to have been a South African issue and is not mentioned on his MIC. Certainly Turner began the war with the South African Defence Forces as a Lieutenant but rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel receiving four 'mentions' during his service, the first being with the South African Mounted Brigade (London Gazette 8 February 1917 refers).

Later that year Turner was appointed the Assistant Quartermaster General to the East African Expeditionary Force and it was in that role that he was to earn the next three 'mentions' (London Gazette 22 September 1917, 6 August 1918, 31 January 1919 refer). After the war he remained in east Africa, earning an appointment investigating the Sisal Industry in East Africa and the Yucatan 1919-20. This hard fibre plant was originally native to the Yucatan but was imported to Tanzania in the early 19th century.

Turner expanded upon his exploration of African trade with an appointment to investigate the trade between South Africa and East Africa from 1922-23 and finally as Commissioner for the Union of South Africa in East African Territories from 1924. He was still there in Nairobi when the Second World War began, swiftly returning to service Turner was appointed Kenya Information Officer in 1939.

This was swiftly followed by an appointment as Deputy Assistant Quartermaster General (Lines of Communication) East African Command between 1940-41. Transferring to a new role as Chief Evacuation Officer, Occupied Territories Administration Headquarters with the Civil Affairs Branch East African Command from 1941. It was with this unit that he was 'mentioned' for the final time in recognition of 'gallant and distinguished services in East Africa and Madagascar' (London Gazette 8 July 1943 refers).

Settling in Nairobi again after the war Turner remained with the War Office working as their Nairobi Agent for the Civil Affairs Directorate between 1947-49. He held further appointments as Organising Secretary for the European and African Trades Organisation and Trade Commissioner representing the Union of South Africa.

Additionally he was a Member of the Kenya Land Settlement Advisory Board, Secretary of the Agricultural and Horticultural Society of Kenya and the Chairman of the committee to campaign for start of Nairobi National Park Turner's wife died at Nairobi in 1949 and he remarried in Winchester in 1950, he appears to have settled back in Britain, dying at Newbury, Berkshire on 29 April 1952; sold together with copied research.

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Estimate
£1,200 to £1,600

Starting price
£950