Mexborough and Swinton Times January 27, 1940
Wombwell Bride‘s Sailor Husband Lost At Sea
Only Married a Month Ago
Rejoined The Ship Two Hours After Wedding
A romantic story of a Wombwell sailor and his bride published in the “South Yorkshire Times” on December 23rd last had a tragic sequel on Tuesday when the bride received from the records office a telegram with the message, “Regret to inform you that your husband is missing, believed drowned.”
Married in December
The message related to Ordnance Artificer Sam Turton (24), only son of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Turton, of 68, Wombwell Main. As recently as Sunday, December 17th he was married by special licence at Wombwell Parish Church to Miss Eleanor Noble (22), elder daughter of Mr and Mrs. Alfred Noble, of School House, Roebuck Street, Wombwell.
Ordnance Artificer Turton was a member of the crew of the destroyer “Exmouth.”
The marriage was planned suddenly while the bridegroom was on short leave. The bride told a “Times” reporter how they talked the matter over on the Saturday right, went to see Canon Blakeney to arrange for a special licence wedding and were married less than twenty-four hours later. “It has been such a rush I can hardly realise I am married,” said Miss Noble at the time.
On the morning of the marriage the bridegroom returned to his ship and that was the last his bride of two hours saw of him.
Stunned by the news, but still hoping that by some miracle her husband might be saved, Mrs. Turton related how on Monday morning of this week she received a happy letter from her husband stating treat he was coming on leave and she could expect him at any moment.
The next day her sister Nora took a telegram from the boy at the door and she snatched it from her saying, “That’s my wire. I want to open it.” She had no other thought than that her husband had sent the wire to say that he was on his way home. “We were getting through the washing and doing all the work,” said Nora, “so that we should have finished everything for when he came home ”
On reading the tragic message Mrs Turton collapsed with the, telegram in her hand.
Mrs. Turton’s mother said the couple had been sweethearts since Eleanor was fourteen and Sam had ‘never bothered with anyone else.” They were passionately devoted to each other. The couple spent the first and last two hours of their married companionship discussing what they would do when the war was over.
Former Y.T.C. Employee
Ordnance Artificer Turton started work in the electricity shop of the Yorkshire Traction Company and later worked in the same capacity for a bus firm at Blackpool. He joined the Navy when he was twenty and had made good progress He had already passed his examinations as a Petty Officer but was not old enough to take the rank. The first two years of his service was in the “Aurora ” in which ship he was an attendant in the sick bay.
A smart figure in his naval uniform, he was often seen about Wombwell before the war. He was a good swimmer and a frequent visitor to Wombwell Baths. He was at one time attached to Wombwell Scout Troop.
There is deep sympathy in Wombwell for the tragic, bride and the bereaved parents.