South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project
The Fallen Men of South Warwickshire - World War One |
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1s
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Military History |
| Theatre of War | Medals | Commonwealth War Grave or Memorial |
|---|---|---|
| African | 1914 Star, British War & Victory Medals | Dar es Salaam War Cemetery |
| Arrived in Theatre | Medal Citation (if app) | SWFHS Area Memorials |
| 5 Aug 1914 in Zanzibar | ~ | Warwick Masonic Lodge | Leamington Spa |
| Action, Battle or Other Reason Killed | Date and Place Enlisted | Other War Memorials |
| The Sinking of HMS Pegasus | 15 Sep 1898 at Dartmouth | |
| Place of Death | Previous Regiments or Units | |
| Hospital near Zanzibar Harbour | See Below | |
Naval Service History
- 15 Sep 1898 - Cadet at HMS Britannia Training Establishment, Dartmouth
- 15 Jun 1900 - Promoted to Midshipman (HMS Ocean)
- 04 Jul 1904 - Promoted to Sub-Lieutenant (HMS Triumph)
- 31 Dec 1905 - Promoted to Lieutenant on 31 December, 1905 (HMS Swiftsure)
- 31 Dec 1913 - Lieutenant-Commander on 31 December, 1913 (HMS Pegasus)
Circumstances of Death
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Richard is listed as dying of wounds on 20 Sep 1914 which were incurred in the attack on HMS Pegasus by the German cruiser Konisberg. H.M.S. Pegasus was one of eleven Pelorus Class cruisers built for the Royal Navy in the late 19th century. After an uneventful career in the Mediterranean and Australia, the ship was re commissioned in 1913 for the Cape Squadron at Simonstown, South Africa. The squadron commanded by Rear-Admiral King-Hall consisted of three elderly cruisers, H.M.S. Astraea, Hyacinth and Pegasus.
At the outbreak ofthe First World War, Astraea and Pegasus were based at Zanzibar and patrolled the coast until the former was called away for escort duty. Continuous steaming for weeks on end searching for the Königsberg had reduced Pegasus’ performance and she required maintenance at Zanzibar on 19 September.
In the meantime Königsberg was less than two hundred miles away in the Rufiji Delta having taken on seven hundred tons of coal. Looff received news of Pegasus’ whereabouts and arrived off Zanzibar at sunrise the following morning and opened fire. Out gunned and outranged Pegasus was disabled within eight minutes, and the ship reduced to a shambles with thirty-eight killed and fifty-five wounded. Commander Ingles ordered the striking of the colours and the raising of a white flag. Looff ceased fire and departed having fired over two hundred and fifty shells.
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| Personal & Family History |
| Birth Date/Place | Baptism Date/Place |
|---|---|
| 12 Jan 1884 at Madura, India | 11 Feb 1884 at Madura |
| Parents Names | Abode |
| Edward and Georgina Turner | Sherbourne Lodge, Leamington |
| Schools | Colleges |
| Stubbington House School, Fareham | ~ |
| Address History | Employment History |
| 1884 - Madura, India | 1890's Scholar |
| 1891 - Not found - not with parents in Leamington | 1898 - Naval Officer Cadet |
| 1901 - Aboard HMS Ocean in Hong Kong | 1900 - Career Naval Officer |
| 1911 - Aboard HMS Pandore in South Africa | |
- Photograph Courtesy of WW1 Photo's website
