The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
Collection relating to the Second World War service of NX3048 Sergeant Richard (Dick) Sydney Turner, 6 Division Supply Column, Australian Army Service Corps. After service in Africa, Turner was captured by the Germans during the Greek campaign in June 1941, but escaped. He remained an escaped POW in Greece until the summer of 1943 when he joined the Greek resistance. He later joined the British military resistance mission in Greece (Force 133). Following defeat of the Axis alliance in October 1944, Turner prepared to return home.
In November 1944, Turner’s older brother Horace wrote him a letter, which comprises this collection. The letter is headed ‘NX115414 Cpl H. Turner, Darwin Coast Arty (A.I.F.), 16/11/44’. Horace writes ‘…Now we are all waiting for you to come home you have done your share and we are all extra proud of you, and I must tell you a little secret Bessie [Turner’s wife] is dying to see you, she has waited and waited, and is lovely, so I am asking you to come home post haste and I know when I ask you, you will come won’t you, she is living every day for your return, so try and get to her very soon ... you know when I send you a SOS that I need you for Bessie now, whenever you have sent me one I have always come to you, now I ask you to hasten home and don’t go back into the mountains …’. Turner never received this letter. He was killed by Greek communist insurgents, on 17 December 1944 while in a truck on his way to Athens airport to be repatriated to Australia. The letter, an Air Mail Letter Card, was returned unopened to Horace. A handwritten memo on the reverse side, from the Australian Military Liason Office, reads ‘Maybe still in Greece’.
Collection relating to the Second World War service of NX3048 Sergeant Richard Sydney Turner MM, Australian Service Corps, Greece, 1943-1944. The collection consists of three Greek identity cards; re
Collection relating to the Second World War service of PA2308 Leading Seaman Thomas Robert Howie, HMAS Nizam, RAN. Collection consists of an air letter, dated 6 June 1944, written by Mrs Cecilia Wall
Collection relating to the Second World War service of NX44330 Driver Lionel Ford Turner, 2/101 Australian General Transport Company, Middle East, Australia, New Guinea, Bougainville, 1940-1946. Wall
Africa Star. Unnamed as issued. NX3048 Sergeant Richard Sydney Turner was born in Sydney in 1916. He enlisted on 28 October 1939 and served with 6 Division Supply Column, Australian Army Service C
Italy Star. Unnamed as issued. NX3048 Sergeant Richard Sydney Turner was born in Sydney in 1916. He enlisted on 28 October 1939 and served with 6 Division Supply Column, Australian Army Service Co
Defence Medal. Impressed around edge with recipient's details. NX3048 Sergeant Richard Sydney Turner was born in Sydney in 1916. He enlisted on 28 October 1939 and served with 6 Division Supply Co
