Regimental Number: 30650
Rank: Staff Sergeant Major
Branch: Unit: No. 2 Depot Unit of Supply, Canadian Army Service Corps
Charles was born in Chilliwack, British Columbia on December 7, 1891, fourth son of Samuel James and Agnes Jane (Knight) Turner.
When World War I broke out, Charles and his two younger brothers, John Wilmot (Bill) Knight Turner and Archibald Albert (Al) Turner enlisted. Prior to enlisting, Charles performed four years Scout Duty with the Royal Northwest Mounted Police C.A.S.C. He enlisted on August 5th, 1914, at Calgary, AB at the age of 24.
He traveled to Valcartier for training in the Canadian Army in September of 1914. Attestation papers are dated September 23, 1914, Valcartier, QC, the primary training base for the Canadian contingent.
On February 15, 1915, Charles embarked to the France theatre of war where he served three years. He was billeted at the home of Theodore Arthur Dubois in Boulogne-sur-mer, Pas-de-Calais, France, where he met a daughter, Jeanne Dubois, who would be his future wife. Charles and Jeanne were married in 1916 after she moved to Wimbledon, London, S.W. England where he was then stationed. They made their home in England for a time, and their first son, Charles Wilmot Samuel Turner, was born on March 13, 1917. From February 1918 onward, Charles served only in England. In January of 1919, he spent some time at an RFC base.
Charles was discharged through St. John, NB Clearing Depot on March 19, 1919, on demobilization, arriving on the ship Grampian. His wife and young son followed separately to Canada.
After the war, the Turners returned to Calgary, then moved to the old Bezanson townsite in 1920, where Charles had filed on the western half of 33-71-26-W5 in 1919. Charles’ father, Samuel Turner, had previously scouted the land for himself and Charlie and his brothers, Al, 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 finally moved into Grande Prairie around 1921 where they remained. Charles was a city father in 1959 and, together with his son Charles Jr., owned and operated a successful building construction company, Turner & Son Building Contractors Ltd.
Charles died in February 1976, his wife Jeanne died in March 1980, and they are both buried in the Grande Prairie Cemetery.
Source: Surname file, News clippings, Official birth, marriage, and death certificates, Obituaries, granddaughter Suzanne (Turner) Dunn