Alfred Ernest Turner (1888-1916) of Martham
Alfred is listed on the War Memorial as one of those who gave his life during the First World War.
Alfred was born on 4th June 1888 in Ludham to Elizabeth Turner and was baptized on 1st February 1889 at Ludham.
He was included in the 1891 census as a baby living with his mother in Workhouse Road, Rollesby, this was probably at the actual Workhouse there. His mother married John Goodwin in September 1891 and by 1901 Alfred lived with his mother and stepfather at Beach Road, Caister-on-Sea. He was included in the census in 1911 again living with his mother and stepfather but at West Caister where he was a fisherman, aged 22.
He was a fisherman prior to beginning his military service on 17th September 1914 joining at Norwich. He served in the military between 17th September 1914 to 28th July 1915 as Private 13989 in the 9th Battalion Norfolk Regiment. He was 5 feet, 8.5 inches tall and described as weighing 140lbs: chest 37.5 inches: fresh complexion: eyes light brown: hair dark brown according to his Attestation Papers.
On 28th July 1915 he was discharged as no longer being fit for service. He did not serve abroad. There does not appear to be a Medal Index Card for him which would tend to indicate that he did not enter a Theatre of War and therefore his death was as a result of accident or illness in the UK before he could join his unit. He died on 20th January 1916 aged 27 and was buried at St Mary the Virgin graveyard, section H, plot D33.
