The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

dhubthaigh

I don't know if the Lorn Corinthian Yacht Club, Oban still exists, or for that matter the memorial;

THE SCOTSMAN: 12.09.1925
MEMORIAL TO OBAN V.C.

In the reading room of the Lorn Corinthian Yacht Club, at Oban, last night, Sir Thomas Dunlop, Bart., G.B.E., unveiled a memorial tablet to Sergeant J. Yule Turnbull, who had been a member of the club. Mr Turnbull was employed at Oban when the war broke out, and at once joined the colours. He was employed as an instructor, and went to France in 1916 with the 17th H.L.I. (Chamber of Commerce Battalion). At first push on the Somme, when all the officer of the battalion were killed or wounded, he took command of a party who hel a post to which the enemy attached great importance, and although his party was wiped out and replaced he held the position for sixteen hours, and in bombing in a final counter-attack was killed at Thiepval on 1st July, 1916. He was posthumously gazetted V.C. on 25th September, 1916. There was a large attendance of members of the Yacht Club and friends at the unveiling ceremony.

dhubthaigh · Posted: Sun Apr 11, 2010 9:32 am Post subject:

Name: TURNBULL, JAMES YUILL
Initials: J Y
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Serjeant
Regiment/Service: Highland Light Infantry
Unit Text: 17th Bn.
Age: 32
Date of Death: 01/07/1916
Service No: 15888
Awards: V C
Additional information: Son of James and Elizabeth Turnbull of Glasgow.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: IV. G. 9.
Cemetery: LONSDALE CEMETERY, AUTHUILE
Citation: An extract from "The London Gazette," No. 29836, dated 24th Nov., 1916, records the following:-"For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty, when, having with his party captured a post apparently of great importance to the enemy, he was subjected to severe counter-attacks, which were continuous throughout the whole day. Although his party was wiped out and replaced several times during the day, Serjeant Turnbull never wavered in his determination to hold the post, the loss of which would have been very serious. Almost, single-handed, he maintained his position, and displayed the highest degree of valour and skill in the performance of his duties. Later in the day this very gallant soldier was killed whilst bombing a counter-attack from the parados of our trench."

Glesga Keelie · Joined: 24 May 2007 Posts: 49 Location: Glasgow

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2015 6:46 pm Post subject:

A History of the 17th HLI (Chamber of Commerce Battalion) is on-line at
http://ia600306.us.archive.org/29/items/17thHLI00glasuoft/17thHLI00glasuoft.pdf

and includes details of the 1 July 1916

RECORD OF WAR SERVICE, 1914-1918. 47

had to be formed at the front line and all lines forward to our

advanced positions, which developed into a series of bombing

posts. Local fights went on at their posts all through the day

and night, and it was while chasing each other round corners

at the head of the communication trench in the afternoon that

we lost Sergeant Turnbull, V.C., who had done wonderful work

all day. The nature of the Leipzig defences, a maze of trenches

and underground saps, made advancing into the salient

extremely hard. One was continually attacked in the rear.

What seemed dug-outs were bombed, and when passed numbers

of the enemy rush from them, they being really underground

communications with their rear defences. The whole fighting

was of a cold, deliberate, merciless nature.

_________________
Ken