Hanson Victor Turner was the son of James Herbert Turner.
He was a bus conductor living at Woodhall Crescent, Copley.
In [Q3] 1935, he married Edith Rothery in Halifax.
Edith was the daughter of William Rothery
During World War II, he joined the Duke of Wellington's Regiment [June 1940]. He served as Sergeant.
He died in action with the West Yorkshire Regiment at Ningthoukong, Burma [7th June 1944], when his platoon came under heavy Japanese fire. He made 5 attacks on the Japanese lines, and was killed on a 6th. He was awarded the Victoria Cross posthumously.
His was the only VC to be awarded to a Halifax citizen in World War II.
He was buried at the Imphal War Cemetery, north-east India [6 B 7]. He is remembered on the grave of his father-in-law William Rothery at St Stephen's Church, Copley and on Copley War Memorial.
In January 1946, a bronze plaque in his memory was unveiled in Halifax Town Hall.
In 1985, Calderdale Council bought his medal for £17,280. It is now in Bankfield Museum.
Turner Avenue, Ovenden was named in his honour.
There is a well-known portrait of Sergeant Turner, of which reader Audrey Beardshall writes:
The portrait was painted by John Mulroy in the 1940s. Mr Mulroy worked from photographs, because the VC was awarded posthumously. I remember sitting in his studio whilst he was painting the portrait, and recall him borrowing my hands as he always said that he thought hands were the most difficult part of the anatomy to draw
In [Q4] 1945, Edith married Charles Ball in Halifax.
This & associated entries use material contributed by Audrey Beardshall
Page Ref: ZZ_134
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