Luger P08 Pistol : Sergeant R S Turner, AIF Accession Number: REL/05234.001

Description

Luger P08 semi-automatic pistol. Toggle marked DWM and the breech top 1913 and the serial number. The grips are chequered wood and the back strap has a 'T' section slide for the detachable wooden shoulder stock. it is complete with a mismatched magazine stamped 2603.

Contextual Description

This pistol was used in Greece by NX3048 Sergeant Richard Sydney Turner. Tuner was born in Sydney in 1916. He enlisted on 28 October 1939 and served with 6 Division Supply Column, Australian Army Service Corps. After service in Africa he was captured by the Germans near Megara during the Greek campaign in June 1941, but escaped from the train taking him to Germany. He was initially sheltered by the Greeks but this became too dangerous when Italian troops offered large rewards for the capture of Allied soldiers and threatened to shoot anyone harbouring them. Turner and a companion hid in the mountains south of Thessaly during the winter of 1941-1942. Weak from malnutrition and malaria he was considering giving himself up when he met Ioannis Kallinikos from the village of Livanatas, who sheltered him for the next year and a half. Turner joined the Greek resistance in the summer of 1943 and led a band of fifty Greek andartes. He later joined the British Military Mission in Greece (Force 133), which operated behind German lines. He was awarded the Military Medal for his endurance and service in Greece. Turner was killed by Greek communist insurgents, during the civil war which broke out in Greece following the withdrawal of the Axis forces, on 17 December 1944 while in a truck on his way to Athens airport to be repatriated to Australia.

Details

Accession Number
REL/05234.001
Manufactured by
Classification
Technology
Object Type
Firearm
Measurement
Archived measurement
Date Made
1913
Place Made
Gallery location
Main Bld: World War 2 Gallery, Gallery 1
Whole/Part
Whole
Item Count
1
Copyright
Copyright not applicable

People

Conflicts

Places

Units

Tags

Accession REL/05234.001

More like this

Luger P08 Pistol firing pin: Sergeant R S Turner, AIF

Technology REL/05234.002 Second World War, 1939-1945

Luger P08 semi-automatic pistol firing pin. Toggle marked DWM and the breech top 1913 and the serial number. The grips are chequered wood and the back strap has a 'T' section slide for the detachable

Africa Star : Sergeant R S Turner

Heraldry RELAWM32036.003 Second World War, 1939-1945

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 : Sergeant R S Turner

Heraldry RELAWM32036.004 Second World War, 1939-1945

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 : Sergeant R S Turner

Heraldry RELAWM32036.005 Second World War, 1939-1945

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

Australia Service Medal : Sergeant R S Turner

Heraldry RELAWM32036.007 Second World War, 1939-1945

Australian Service 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 Divisio

1939-45 Star : Sergeant R S Turner

Heraldry RELAWM32036.002 Second World War, 1939-1945

1939-45 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

See more similar items →

Record information

Last modified: 7 September 2026 - 5.36 am