Len Turner WW1
An amateur with Exeter City who made his debut and scoring twice in a 4-3 away win during a Plymouth and District League fixture against the Devon & Cornwall Light Infantry. .
In early 1916 he joined the army, distinguishing himself with much credit, and using his physical ability to good use as an instructor to rise to the rank of Corporal. Having served with the 4th Battalion, Devonshire Regiment, Service Number 202177. Len was killed when his ship, the S.S. Aragon was torpedoed off the coast of Egypt on Sunday,30th of December 1917.
Age 29 His body is buried at the Alexandria (Hadra) War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt, where the engraving on his headstone reads (line one) A Beloved Son and Brother (line two) God is Love. Grave F.82 The Troopship S.S. Aragon( Above sinking )arrived at Alexandria Harbour, having sailed from Marseilles on the 17th December.
She was laden with around 2,700 troops bound for the conflicts in Palestine. 610 passengers on board the S.S. Aragon were lost at sea. As she arrived in a convoy bound for the port, the rest of the ships sailed onwards to Alexandria and she lay up ten miles off shore, awaiting her escort. The 9588 tons of ocean liner drifted gently as she waited within sight of land but was torpedoed by the German Submarine and minelayer the UC-34.
Len is buried in the Alexandria War Memorial Cemetery, and in November 2018 a wreath of flowers with the club crest were laid at his grave by a fellow Grecian.
In early 1916 he joined the army, distinguishing himself with much credit, and using his physical ability to good use as an instructor to rise to the rank of Corporal. Having served with the 4th Battalion, Devonshire Regiment, Service Number 202177. Len was killed when his ship, the S.S. Aragon was torpedoed off the coast of Egypt on Sunday,30th of December 1917.
Age 29 His body is buried at the Alexandria (Hadra) War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt, where the engraving on his headstone reads (line one) A Beloved Son and Brother (line two) God is Love. Grave F.82 The Troopship S.S. Aragon( Above sinking )arrived at Alexandria Harbour, having sailed from Marseilles on the 17th December.
She was laden with around 2,700 troops bound for the conflicts in Palestine. 610 passengers on board the S.S. Aragon were lost at sea. As she arrived in a convoy bound for the port, the rest of the ships sailed onwards to Alexandria and she lay up ten miles off shore, awaiting her escort. The 9588 tons of ocean liner drifted gently as she waited within sight of land but was torpedoed by the German Submarine and minelayer the UC-34.
Len is buried in the Alexandria War Memorial Cemetery, and in November 2018 a wreath of flowers with the club crest were laid at his grave by a fellow Grecian.
For more about Len Turner’s playing career see his entry in the A to Z of Exeter City players section of the Archive
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Alison Styles
Len Turner lived in Pinhoe Road. I have included him in the booklet I've put together about the Polsloe area and WW1.