collection C40-5.2 - T.J. Turnbull fonds

Tom James Turnbull was born in July 1871 in Hartlepool, Durham, England. In 1894 he enlisted in the Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders. He served in the South African War, and was wounded at the battle of Paardeberg. In 1904, as a Sergeant, he transferred to the Royal Inniskillen Fusiliers, and saw service in Cairo, Egypt. He was promoted to Drum Major and to Regimental Sergeant-Major. In 1920 he emigrated to Canada and was appointed Regimental Sergeant-Major of Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI) in Winnipeg. He retired in 1934, intending to settle in his childhood home of Tunbridge Wells, England, but instead returned to Winnipeg in 1935. In 1900 he married Mary Norris Hamilton, and they had 7 children, Mary Margaret "Molly", Jeannie Hamilton, Tom James, Alice Hamilton, Dorothy Rowell, Mabel, and Robert. He died in Winnipeg in 1954.