Turner, Archibald Albert “Al”

Regimental No: 30722
Rank: Sargent
Branch: No. 3 Depot Unit of Supply, Canadian Army Service Corps

Al was born in Chilliwack, British Columbia on May 10, 1896, sixth son of Samuel James and Agnes Jane (Knight) Turner.

When the First World War broke out, Al and his two older brothers, John Wilmot (Bill) Knight Turner and Charles Thomas McLinden Turner enlisted. He enlisted on August 30th, 1914, at Calgary, AB at the age of 18, although his attestation papers have the birth year of 1895 making him 19. Prior to enlisting he had served in the Peace Time Militia 103 Regiment for 3 years with his brother Charles.

Al traveled to Valcartier for training in the Canadian Army in September of 1914.  Attestation papers are dated September 24, 1914, Valcartier, QC, the primary training base for the Canadian contingent.  He was transferred to the Defense Unit of Supply and embarked to France, landing in February 1915.  He was promoted to Corporal on October 6, 1914, in Valcartier, and to Sargent on November 2, 1916, in the field.

Al was discharged through Calgary, AB on August 10, 1919, on demobilization, arriving on the ship Saturnia travelling from Glasgow to Montreal (July 25, 1919-August 4, 1919).

After the war, the Turners returned to Calgary, then moved to the old Bezanson townsite in 1920, where Al filed on the east half of 32-71-26-E5 in 1919.  Al’s father, Samuel Turner, had previously scouted the land himself and his sons Al, Charles, Bill, and Cliff in anticipation of their return from the war.  Al, Bill, and Cliff did not stay but Ellis, the youngest, filed on the SW quarter of 5-72-26-W5.  Charles and family moved into Grande Prairie around 1921 where they remained.

Al married Lulu Gertrude Tarr on November 30, 1922, in Calgary, AB and then they moved to Portland, Oregon.  Al moved to Seattle, Washington and then met and married Fay Wills on May 25, 1925, in Vancouver, Washington, USA.  They moved around a bit with daughter Barbara Fay (Turner) Cook (married Royce L. Cook) being born in Dallas, Texas and then settling in Klamath Falls, Oregon, where Al owned and operated an automotive dealership.

Al died on June 30, 1958, in Rural Astoria, Clatsop, Oregon, and his wife Fay died December 20, 1969, in Oregon.  Barbara died June 30, 1988, in Minden, Nevada.

Source: Peace River Country Land Settlement Database, Official birth, marriage, death certificates, grandniece Suzanne (Turner) Dunn

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