Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Family Group:

A Great War Medal of the Order of the British Empire pair awarded to Chief Medical Officer E. B. Turner, Special Constabulary, for his gallantry in searching for and tending to the injured after an air raid on London, 7 March 1918
Medal of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, (Civil), unnamed as issued, in John Pinches, London, case of issue; Special Constabulary Long Service Medal, G.V.R., with ‘The Great War 1914-18’ Bar (Sub-Inspr Edward B. Turner); together with the recipient’s Silver War Badge, the reverse numbered ‘B141602’; and a miniature Amateur Athletic Association silver medal, extremely fine

A Second War O.B.E. group of four awarded to Miss Beatrice E. Turner, Voluntary Aid Detachment
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Civil) Officer’s 2nd type lady’s shoulder badge, silver-gilt, on lady’s bow riband, in Royal Mint case of issue; 1914-15 Star (B. Turner. V.A.D.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (B. Turner. V.A.D.) about extremely fine

A Great War M.B.E. group of three awarded to Miss Isobel A. Turner, Queen Mary’s Army Auxiliary Corps
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Military) Member’s 1st type lady’s shoulder badge, silver (hallmarks for London 1919), on lady’s bow riband, in Garrard, London, case of issue; British War and Victory Medals (U. Adtr. I. A. Turner. Q.M.A.A.C.) nearly extremely fine (9) £800-1200

O.B.E. Medal London Gazette 12 October 1920:
‘For service in the Metropolitan Special Constabulary during the War , which has been distinguished by conspicuous courage or by exceptional zeal and devotion to duty.’

The original recommendation states: ‘This officer rendered especially distinguished service on the occasion of an air raid upon London. He was one of the earliest persons to arrive at a spot, in Warrington Crescent, W., where a bomb was dropped at 11:50 p.m. on 7 March 1918, and he gave medical aid to a number of persons who were injured by the explosion. This service was performed under conditions of great difficulty and danger, owing to the ruinous state of the houses, which Mr. Turner entered in order to search for and attend the injured, some of whom were found to be imprisoned in debris; to the fact that portions were falling from time to time, while other portions were on fire; and to the extreme cold and darkness, Mr. Turner who was then about sixty three years of age, continued his work and completed it at about 5:00 a.m. on 8 March 1918, though repeatedly warned of the danger, and showed a fine example of courage and conscientious discharge of duties under exceptionally trying circumstances. Mr. Turner attested on 17 August 1914, and is still serving as Medical Officer to the Division. He performed routine duties with great regularity, including duty as Sub-Inspector of the 6:00 a.m. relief. In addition, he gave courses of First Aid lectures to Officers and men of the Division, the value of which is shown by the fact that about 96% of his pupils passed the examinations of the St. John Ambulance Association, and did good work under his leadership at air raids during the War.’

Edward Beadon Turner was born at Chigwell, Essex, on 3 September 1854, and was educated at Uppingham School and St. George’s Hospital. He served during the Great War as an Inspector with the Special Constabulary, and was later Chief Medical Officer of ‘F’ Division. After the War he continued his Medical career, and was a Member of the General Medical Council 1920-25. He married Margaret Isobel Scott in 1887, with whom he had four daughters, and died on 30 June 1931.

A keen sportsman, Turner played three International matches for England at Rugby Football, all against Ireland, and scored a try in his final appearance for England at Lansdowne Road, Dublin, on 11 March 1878. He also captained the United Hospitals XV in 1877-78, which contained seven England international players. However, his real passion was for cycling, and he broke all the world records over distances of two miles to twenty-five miles on a tricycle. His greatest achievement in cycling was setting the hour record of 21 miles and 226 yards on a solid-tyred (as opposed to pneumatic-tyred) tricycle. Even today this is still the greatest distance ever ridden in the hour on a solid-tyre machine of any sort. In later life he was an enthusiastic yachtsman, was a member of the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club, and won a number of races around the south and east coasts in his 21-ton cutter.

Sold together with a letter of congratulations to the recipient from the Commandant , ‘F’ Division, Metropolitan Special Constabulary Reserve, on the award of his O.B.E. Medal, and various copied research including a photographic image of the recipient.


O.B.E. London Gazette 9 January 1946.

M.I.D. London Gazette 21 December 1917.

Miss Beatrice Ethel Turner was born on 23 January 1891, the second daughter of Edward Beadon Turner, and served during the Great War as a Nurse with the Voluntary Aid Detachment on the Western Front, being Mentioned in Sir Douglas Haig’s Despatch of 7 November 1917. At the end of the War she was awarded a Red Cross scholarship, and studied medicine at the Royal Free Hospital, London, qualifying in 1925. She subsequently practised gynaecology and obstetrics, and during the Second World War established an emergency Maternity Hospital at Amersham, Buckinghamshire, for which work she was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the 1946 New Year’s Honours List. She retired to the Isle of Mull in 1956, and died on Christmas Day 1964.

Sold together with named Buckingham Palace enclosure for the O.B.E.


M.B.E. London Gazette 3 June 1919.

Miss Isobel Agnes Turner was born on 17 May 1892, the third daughter of Edward Beadon Turner, and served during the Great War as a Unit Administrator with Queen Mary’s Army Auxiliary Corps at Rouen, France, for which work she was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 1919 Birthday Honours List. She subsequently served as an Assistant Science Mistress at Roedean School, Brighton, and as an Assistant Inspector with the Ministry of Health.