EVEN when he knew he was dying, old Redditch soldier Captain Brian Turner never lost his sense of humour.
“He was in the Alex three times this year and the last time he was joking that the only way he was going to get out was in a wooden overcoat,” said his wife Jean, from the couple’s Matchborough home.
Brian Turner was born in Brownhills, Staffordshire, the family moving to Ramsgate when he was two. He grew up a Kentish lad, went to Chatham House School for Boys, was a chorister – he sang at Canterbury Cathedral – and enjoyed most sports, including cricket, rugby swimming and athletics.
Aged 18 he joined the Army in 1944 and served in the Royal Engineers.
Part of a forgotten unit sent to Poland, Brian marched his unit, seven men in all, back across Europe to Portugal, safety and home.
He later received the Military Cross and eventually reached the rank of acting Lieutenant Colonel.
He saw service in France, Italy, Germany and Egypt, where he was twice shot. He was also made an honorary member of the SAS.
“They got one of the bullets out but the other was lodged in the ball and socket of his thigh – but amazingly years later he passed it out in his water,” said Jean.
The couple met in Ramsgate in 1958 where Jean can gone on holiday with her work colleague Katherine, who happened to be Brian’s niece.
“We had been there three days and I saw this young man looking at me and Kath said it was her Uncle Brian.
“The three of us went black berry picking the next day and then we all went to France on a trip.”
Later, back in Birmingham where Kath and Jean worked at the Scottish Union Insurance Company, Brian turned up and the romance blossomed.
The couple were married for 57 years and had two sons, Peter and Ian, both of whom served 22 years in the RAF. Brian also had a daughter, Christine, from a previous marriage.
“He was a a private man, he didn’t like a lot of fuss but he was very kind and generous,” said Jean.
After the war Capt Turner worked for Land Rover at Solihull, the couple moving to Redditch in the 1970s. He had a passion for Land Rovers and often the couple would go to rallies and trials with their vehicle.
He was also a passionate member of the Royal British Legion, was ever present on Armistice Day, Remembrance Sunday and Armed Forces Day in Redditch and Jean says that the day before Armistice Day he would always visit the cenotaph in Plymouth Road and salute the monument.
“I would like to thank all the staff at the Alexandra Hospital who were so kind to Brian during his last days, the paramedics and the doctors and nurses on MAU Ward 3,” said Jean.
Local Matchborough ward Councillor Juliet Brunner said: “Brian was a true gentleman extremely proud of his service to our country although very modest about his Military Cross. He was a devoted husband, loving father and grandfather and a keen community advocate. He was quite a character!
“I am extremely honoured that Mrs Turner has asked me to do the eulogy at the service.
Captain Turner died on September 19, aged 91. His funeral will be at Redditch Crematorium on Thursday October 5 at 3.30pm. Family flowers only.
Any donations to the League of Friends, Alexandra Hospital, Redditch, or to Co-op Funeral Service, William Street, Redditch.
