Thomas George Turrall

He stayed with an injured officer and carried him to safety.

Thomas George Turrall was born at Hay Mills, Birmingham. Educated locally, he worked as a painter and decorator. His first wife died in 1914, leaving a daughter. He joined the 10th Worcestershire Regiment in 1915.

At La Boisselle on 3 July 1916, Turrall remained with a badly wounded officer after an attack failed. Cut off by enemy troops, he protected the officer, kept him alive and eventually carried him back to British lines. His sustained care and courage earned the Victoria Cross, presented in December 1916.

Turrall survived the war and remarried in 1920. Detailed evidence for his later employment is limited, so it is not reconstructed here. He lived in the Birmingham area until his death at Selly Oak Hospital on 21 February 1964. He was buried with military honours at Robin Hood Cemetery, Solihull.

Official Victoria Cross citation

For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty. During a bombing attack by a small party against the enemy the officer in charge was badly wounded, and the party having penetrated the position to a great depth was compelled to retire. Private Turrall remained with the wounded officer for three hours, under continuous and very heavy fire from machine guns and bombs, and, notwithstanding that both himself and the officer were at one time completely cut off from our troops, he held to his ground with determination, and finally carried the officer into our lines after our counter-attacks had made this possible.

Supplement to The London Gazette of 8 September 1916. 9 September 1916, Numb. 29740, p. 8871