James Youll Turnbull

Held a captured post all day whilst successive parties fell.

James Yuill Turnbull was born in Glasgow on 24 December 1883. He attended Albert Road Academy and worked in the tailoring trade, first for Wallace, Scott and Company and later for a firm in Oban. His interests included football, athletics and sailing. He had experience with the 3rd Lanark Volunteers before the First World War.

In 1914 Turnbull joined the Glasgow battalion that became the 17th Highland Light Infantry. An accomplished bombing instructor, he became a sergeant and remained in Britain for training duties before reaching France in November 1915.

On 1 July 1916, the opening day of the Battle of the Somme, Turnbull and his party captured an important post at the Leipzig Salient near Authuille. German counter-attacks continued throughout the day. The soldiers around him were repeatedly killed or wounded and replaced, but Turnbull remained at the position, using grenades to keep the attackers back. His skill and determination helped preserve the captured ground when its loss could have imperilled the attack.

Later that day Turnbull was killed while resisting another counter-attack from the rear parapet of the trench. He was buried in Lonsdale Cemetery at Authuille. His Victoria Cross was awarded posthumously. He had not married, and George V presented the medal to his father and sister at Buckingham Palace on 2 May 1917. His brother Gavin also died during the war, while serving with the Royal Engineers in 1917.

Official Victoria Cross citation

For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty, when, having with his party captured a post apparently of great importance to the enemy, he was subjected to severe counter-attacks, which were continuous throughout the whole day. Although his party was wiped out and replaced several times during the day, Serjeant Turnbull never wavered in his determination to hold the post, the loss of which would have been very serious. Almost single-handed, he maintained his position, and displayed the highest degree of valour and skill in the performance of his duties. Later in the day this very gallant soldier was killed whilst bombing a counter-attack from the parados of our trench.