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Turpin, Patrick George

Date of birth:
April 27th, 1911 (Torquay/Devon, Great Britain)
Date of death:
September 14th, 1996
Service number:
63806
Nationality:
British (1801-present, Kingdom)

Biography

Patrick Turpin was educated at Exeter College, Oxford where he studied classics. He was commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Army Service Corps (R.A.S.C.) in 1933. During the war he served with the R.A.S.C. and on the staff, serving in the western desert, Sicily, Italy and Germany. He was Assistant Quartermaster General XXX Corps, 1943, in charge of logistics (moving men, ammunition, food, clothing, medical supplies) ; Assistant Adjudant & Quarter Master General., 5 Infantry Division, 1943-44; Deputy Assistant & Quarter Master General I Corps, 1945.
He remained in the Army after the war, becoming Director of Movement, Ministry of Defence and was Colonel of the Gurkha Army Service Corps, 1960-65 and Colonel Commandant of the Royal Corps of Transport from 1965. He was awarded the C.B. in 1962.

Promotions:
October 31st, 1943: 2nd Lieutenant (Royal Army Service Corps)
? Lieutenant
February 2nd, 1941: Captain
? Major
? Lieutenant-Colonel (war sub)
September 21st, 1949: Lieutenant-Colonel
30 maart 1953: Colonel
January 23th, 1959: Brigadier
May 18th, 1960: Temporary Major-General, appointment as (Director of 'Supplies and Transport, War Office,
June 9th, 1960: Major-General
May 16th, 1963: relinquishes appointment as (Director of 'Supplies and
Transport, War Office
August 16th, 1963: appointment as Director of Movements, War Office
Ocotber 5th, 1966 relinquished his appointment as Director of Movements, War Office

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Temporary Lieutenant-Colonel
Unit:
Royal Army Service Corps
Awarded on:
November 25th, 1943
Recommendation:
"Lt-Col. P. G. Turpin has been A.Q.M.G. of 30 Corps since February 1943 and, as such, he had charge of all the detailed planning connected with the maintenance of the Corps during the advance from Tripoli until the Corps was relieved at Sfax. During this period the Corps was continually changing its composition and many involved problems concerning ammunition, water and petrol supplies had to be solved. It was in very great part due to Lt-Col. Turpin’s knowledge, foresight, inperturbability and close and constant attention to detail that these problems were successfully met. At no time during this period did any unit go short of supplies or any plan fail due to lack of provision. Since the close of the campaign Lt-Col. Turpin has worked indefatigably on other complicated duties which have fallen to him. It is no exaggeration to say that Lt-Col. Turpin’s work has been most valuable to the Corps he served and to the pursuance of operations as a whole."
Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Temporary Lieutenant-Colonel
Unit:
Royal Army Service Corps
Awarded on:
August 24th, 1941
Mentioned in Dispatches
Citation:
"In recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Italy."
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Temporary Lieutenant-Colonel
Unit:
Royal Army Service Corps
Awarded on:
July 19th, 1945
Citation (general):
"In recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Italy."
Mentioned in Dispatches

Sources

  • - The London Gazette Issue 34100 published on the 30 October 1934
    - Third Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 35063 published on the 31 January 1941
    - Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 36261 published on the 23 November 1943
    - Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 36668 published on the 22 August 1944
    - Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 37184 published on the 17 July 1945
    - Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 38854 published on the 7 March 1950
    - Second Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 40085 published on the 26 January 1954
    - Second Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 41613 published on the 20 January 1959
    - Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 42033 published on the 13 May 1960
    - Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 42086 published on the 5 July 1960
    - Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 42683 published on the 25 May 1962
    - Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 42994 published on the 14 May 1963
    - Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 43081 published on the 13 August 1963
    - Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 44134 published on the 6 October 1966
    - Dix Noonan Webb
    - The Independent - Obituaries

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