Sidney George Turner

This story and photos are shared with the Trust with kind permission from Trevor Foster, grandson of Sidney George Turner

Remembering my grandfather, Sidney George Turner. I do not know which school he attended but I have a picture of him when he was young and also with his brother, Charlie.

He got married to my grandmother, Jennie, on 15th August 1934.

Shirley, my mum, was born 10th December 1935. When he volunteered in 1940 he was employed as a milkman with Bourne and Hilliers.

Sidney and Jennie bought a house, 15, Lewis Avenue, Gillingham, Kent.

I have no record of his initial training but his Log Book shows his first flight entry on 24th March 1941. He passed his Gunnery Course on 25th April 1941 and in August 1941 he joined 218 Squadron at Marham, Norfolk. His first operation was Munchen Gladbach on 11th August 1941 and he completed his tour of 30 missions in November 1942.

I have some photos of Sidney in the RAF. The one above is at what I am guessing was a briefing and the one below is a more formal one with his fellow aircrew.

During his tour he had to bale out due to engine failure after 45 mins on an Op to Duisberg. For this he got a Caterpillar badge to his medals. On an Op to Keil Bay, minelaying, in April 1942 he claimed to have shot down a Me 110 nightfighter.

He returned back to operations for his second tour in March 1944 when a new squadron, 578 based at Burn, North Yorkshire was formed. He completed 10 more Ops before he went missing, presumed dead, on the mission on D-Day, 1944.

The last picture was taken in March 1941 outside his house with my gran, Jennie and my mum, Shirley who was 5 years old at that time

L-R: Jennie, Shirley, Sidney outside their house at 15, Lewis Avenue, Gillingham

 

In August 2026 I visited your excellent memorial to mainly see my grandfather's inscription. It was a wonderful moving experience.

Sidney has no known grave and is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial to the Missing, Runnymede, Berkshire.