Private Peter Turnbull was my uncle. He died on 30 July 1944 and is buried at Fontenay-le-Pesnel War Cemetery, Tessel. Would any body have any info on which battle he may have been involved in. I would love to get a photo of him. As you may be aware my parents like many who lived through the war never talked about it. So it has been a hard trek for me so far. Thanks in anticipation David. Casualty Private TURNBULL, PETER Service Number 3783320 Died 30/07/1944 Aged 20 5th Bn. East Lancashire Regiment INSCRIPTION: HIS LIFE A BEAUTIFUL MEMORY HIS ABSENCE A SILENT GRIEF, NEVER FORGOTTEN. SISTERS AND BROTHERS Buried at FONTENAY-LE-PESNEL WAR CEMETERY, TESSEL Location: Calvados, France Number of casualties: 509 Cemetery/memorial reference: II. A. 15. See cemetery plan
Hi, Welcome to the forum. Your best way forward will be to apply for a copy of his service records at a cost of £30 - takes about 6 to 8 weeks - via the below link. Get a copy of military service records The Regimental Museum has a webisite - The Regiments in World War II | Lancashire Infantry Museum It states - The Bocage. Both East Lancashire battalions then deployed into the close bocage country west of Caen. While the 1st Battalion held a succession of defensive positions in an exposed salient, at Cheux, Grainville and Bougy, the 5th Battalion were involved in offensive action 2-3 miles further west. On 16th July (‘Black Sunday’) the 5th East Lancashires suffered some two hundred casualties in an attack at Fontenay-le-Pesnil. On 29th July the same Battalion made another costly attack, though this time with more success, and by 8th August they had advanced to the River Orne bridgehead at Grimbosq, where the 1st Battalion also crossed. On 13th August, due to an acute shortage of infantry battle casualty replacements, the 59th Division, including 5th East Lancashires, was disbanded. Your best bet for a picture of him will be to search local newspapers. It’s not likely to be with his service papers. Good Luck. Steve EDIT TO ADD 59th (Staffordshire) Infantry Division - Wikipedia
https://images.findagrave.com/photos250/photos/2014/219/56182031_1407506937.jpg https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56182031/peter-turnbull
My Uncle - Private-Peter-Turnbull-East-Lancashire-Regiment-5th-Battalion- died at Caen on about the 30 July 1944. And is buried at Fontenay-le-Pesnil. I never knew him. All my growing up I wondered why mum used to go outside on New Years Eve. She never would tell me. Parents did not talk about the war much, only the funny things. Like the house next door just falling down when the school across the rd was bombed. I doubt anybody would remember my uncle now except me.
