Griffiths James Turner 284523 2/Lt
Personnel Entry
Name Griffiths James Turner
Army number 284523.
Rank Private, Second Lieutenant.
Decorations Military Cross - Gazetted 1/2/1945 - notified 3/2/1945 - and Service Awards. The Citation for the MC is set out below.
Date of birth 25/11/1918 at Tynewydd, Rhondda.
Age 92 at the time of his death.
Unit Conscripted 15/3/1940 into the Middlesex Regiment. In late 1942 selected for OCTU - attended Aldershot April to July 1943. Granted an Emergency Commission in the Middlesex Regiment as a Second Lieutenant 1/7/1943. Posted to 2nd Battalion, Princess Louise's Kensington Regiment. Served Normandy. Injured. Returned to the UK. Demobilised 24/8/1945.
Company/Battery C Company.
Platoon or other sub-unit 9 Platoon.
Task or role Platoon Commander.
Joined Brigade From the date C Company 2nd Kensingtons were attached to the Brigade.
Promotions Promoted to Lieutenant. Promoted Captain 5/8/1945. Gazetted Lt and Honorary Captain 14/10/1949.
Wounded Yes - hospitalised with concussion 21/11/1944.
Prisoner of War No.
Died/Killed in action Died at Lowestoft, Suffolk 30/4/2010 aged 92.
Home address Father - Humphrey Owen Griffiths. Mother Jane (Jennie) Thomas. Married - first -Marie Christina Gargini ( 1920 - 1981) 30/6/1940 at the Church of St Peter and St Paul, Uxbridge. Lived at 57 North Road, Hayes, Middlesex. Divorced 1946. Married - secondly - Joan I.W. Palmer in 1949 and lived in Lowestoft. Became Managing Director and then Chairman of Pye Ltd.
Source table
The Citation for Lt Griffiths' Military Cross reads as follows and is filed at The National Archives under reference WO 373/50:-
This Officer has at all times displayed high courage in the face of the enemy and by his coolness, foresight and initiative has twice succeeded in maintaining his platoon in action in extremely hazardous circumstances.
On the first occasion his platoon was ambushed by a German tank. Although two carriers were immediately knocked out he succeeded in getting the other section into actionat a critical time. Enemy fire was so intense that his clothes were hit in several places.
On the second occasion his platoon was in support of 1 Tyne Scots during a day long enemy attack. Although he narrowly escaped being blown up by an exploding tank, he handled his platoon with considerable skill and initiative thereby greatly assisting the local infantry.
These instances are typical of his bravery and steadiness under fire at all times.
The recommendation was put forward by Major General Barker of 49th Division and supported by the Corps Commander and Lt Gen Crerar G.o.C. in C. of First Canadian Army.
