Marist Albion RFC

As the centenary of the First World War continues to be marked in many ways, it is fitting to draw attention to past Albion player, Canterbury representative and the club's first ever All Black who lost his life on active service towards the end of that war.

In memory of Sergeant Hubert Sydney Turtill, 426516, 422nd Field Company, Royal Engineers died (killed in action), age 38, on 9th April 2018 in Givenchy, France. Husband of Mabel Edith Turtill (nee Hancock).

Early years

Hubert's father died in London when he was only three years old and his mother decided to move to New Zealand to be with relatives. On the sea voyage in 1884 he gained the nickname Jum, short for Jumbo - a reference to his size as an infant.

Rugby union

He started his rugby union career playing for Christchurch Albion before making the Canterbury team in 1902. He represented the South Island in 1903 and 1907.

He became the club's first ever All Black in 1905, playing just one test for the All Blacks, against Australia in Dunedin in 1905. Despite being regarded as one of the best players on the field, he never wore the black jersey again.

Rugby league

In 1907 he joined the professional All Blacks – better known as the All Golds – on their tour of Great Britain and Australia, thus joining the code that would evolve into rugby league. He was selected because he was considered well versed in wet weather football, something the side would constantly experience in Great Britain.

On the tour he played in six test matches and captained the side in the first ever trans-Tasman test against the Australia National Rugby League team in 1908. Turtill only scored one try on tour, but it was an important one - in a test match against Great Britain - to help them win the series.

Once the tour was over he returned to England with his wife, originally intending to play for Salford. However he instead joined St. Helens and was a stalwart for the Club prior to the First World War.

First World War

Being a Lancashire lad now, Turtill wasted no time in heading off to fight the Germans as part of the 422nd Field Company in the British Army. Turtill was a Royal Engineer. During the war Turtill fought in France from as early as October 1915. He somehow survived the battles of Pilkem Ridge and Menin Road Ridge and in February 1918, Turtill's 55th Division relieved the 42nd (East Lancashire's) in the front line at Givenchy and Festubert.

Here they faced numerous strong enemy raids in March. Early April was much quieter: it was the calm before storm - the great German spring offensive. The Battle of Estaires and the defence of Givenchy began on 9th April. Turtill mortally wounded by shrapnel from a shell burst on 9th April 1918. He was 38 years old.

The Defence of Givenchy was to become the single most famous action that the Division fought. It was afterwards publicly stated by an officer of the German General Staff that the stand made by the Division on April 9th and the days which followed marked the final ruination of the supreme German effort of 1918.

Hubert Turtill is buried at Brown's Road Cemetery, near Festubert, France. His wife and son returned to New Zealand. His son, Alan, lost his life in WW2 in Libya, North Africa aged 32. He was a Captain with the 21st Battalion New Zealand Infantry.

In memory of Sergeant Hubert S Turtill who gave his life in the service of his country during the First World War. We remember his name with pride.