John Charles McNicol Turnbull (30 December 1885 – 2 May 1917) was an Australian rules footballer, who played with South Melbourne in the Victorian Football League.
Family The son of Charles William Turnbull (1862–1912),Deaths: Turnbull, The Argus, (Friday, 22 November 1912), p.9. and Agnes Turnbull (1861–1915), née McNicol,Marriage: Turnbull—McNicol, The McIvor Times and Rodney Advertiser, (Friday, 3 April 1885), p.2.Deaths: Turnbull, The Argus, (Thursday, 11 February 1915), p.1.Concerning People, The Shepparton News, (Thursday, 18 February 1915), p.3. John Charles McNicol Turnbull was born at Horsham, Victoria on 30 December 1885.
He married Mary Ellen Adams (1890–1974) in 1912.
Football He played 12 games for South Melbourne First XVIII in 1908;The South Melbourne Team, The Weekly Times, (Saturday, 13 June 1908), p.25. and, after this short VFL career, he returned to the bush and settled in Ballarat.
Military service Employed as a bricklayer, he enlisted in the First AIF, and left Australia for overseas service on HMAT Ascanius (A11) on 27 May 1916.
Death He was severely wounded in action on the Western Front on 30 April 1917, and died of his wounds on 2 May 1917.
Buried at the Trois Arbres Cemetery, at Steenwerck in Northern France,Private John Charles McNicol Turnbull (241), Commonwealth War Graves Commission. he left a widow and five children, one of whom was born after he left for overseas service.News of District Soldiers, The Ballarat Star, (Thursday, 17 May 1917), p.6.Wish Not Fulfilled, The Herald, (Monday, 10 September 1917), p.4.
See also List of Victorian Football League players who died on active service
Footnotes
References Holmesby, Russell & Main, Jim (2007). The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers. 7th ed. Melbourne: Bas Publishing. Main, J. & Allen, D., "Turnbull, Jack", pp. 186–190 in Main, J. & Allen, D., Fallen – The Ultimate Heroes: Footballers Who Never Returned From War, Crown Content, (Melbourne), 2002. First World War Embarkation Roll: Private John Charles McNicol Turnbull (241), collection of the Australian War Memorial. World War One Service Record: Private John Charles McNicol Turnbull (241), National Archives of Australia. Roll of Honour Circular: Private John Charles McNicol Turnbull (241), collection of the Australian War Memorial. Roll of Honour: Private John Charles McNicol Turnbull (241), Australian War Memorial. Australian Casualties: List No.301: Died of Wounds: Victoria (Turnbull, J.C.M., Horsham, 2/5/17), The Argus, (Tuesday 22 May 1917), p.9. Deaths: Australians on Service: Killed: Turnbull, The Argus, (Thursday 24 May 1917), p.6.
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