Victor Buller Turner - Victoria Cross Details

Victoria Cross Details

He was 42 years old, and a temporary lieutenant colonel in The Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own), British Army during the Second World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 27 October 1942, at El Aqqaqir (Kidney feature), Western Desert, Egypt, during the Second Battle of El Alamein, Lieutenant Colonel Turner was commanding a battalion of the Rifle Brigade. After overcoming a German position, the battalion fought off desperate counter-attacks by 90 tanks, destroying or immobilising more than 50 of them. During the action, one of the 6-pounder guns was left with only one officer and a sergeant, so Colonel Turner joined them as loader, and between them they destroyed another five tanks. Not until the last tank had been repulsed did he consent to having a wound in his head attended to.

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