The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
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 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 of 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.
Small red polished cotton Australian ensign with separately applied white cotton stars and an appliqued printed cotton Union Jack in the upper left canton. There is a fine mercerised cotton cord threa
Small escape compass with a brass body and glass top. Within is a 'floating' steel disc perforated with four evenly spaced holes. North is marked with a dotted line. This small escape compass was ca
Brass bodied compass painted overall gloss black with small areas of paint worn off from use, and exposing the brass. The body consists of the main lower part containing the graduated compass disc.
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 shou
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
Paybook photograph of Sergeant (Sgt) Richard Sydney Turner MM, 6th Division, Australian Army Service Corps. In June 1941 in Greece, Sgt Turner was taken Prisoner of War (POW) by the Germans and taken
Pair of black leather British issue commando boots, without toe caps. The boots lace, with black leather laces, to mid-calf, which are secured by six pairs of eyelets and six pairs of steel hooks. The
Sheath Knife. Small knife with a polished steel blade and dark grey bakelite grips. The single edged blade has a curved, upturned tip., and has small serations along the back edge for 50mm forward of
Double sided, black printed silk escape map of Greece and the eastern Mediterranean. One side, marked 'S2', on a scale of 1:175,000, shows Greece and Crete in detail. The other side, marked 'S3', on a
Small printed red cotton Australian ensign with a separately applied printed Union Jack in the upper left canton. The fabric has been treated with dressing to make it stiff. NX3048 Sergeant Richard
Small printed red cotton Australian ensign with a separately applied printed Union Jack in the upper left canton. The fabric has been treated with dressing to make it stiff. NX3048 Sergeant Richard
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
Black leatherette wallet with a semi-circular opening containing a black leatherette covered 'board' with no markings. The 'board' is 201 by 142mm when open. The front of the wallet is stamped 'CHESS
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
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
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
Small printed red cotton Australian ensign with a separately applied printed Union Jack in the upper left canton. The fabric has been treated with dressing to make it stiff. NX3048 Sergeant Richard
Small printed red cotton Australian ensign with a separately applied printed Union Jack in the upper left canton. The fabric has been treated with dressing to make it stiff. NX3048 Sergeant Richard