Lionel “Digger” Turnbull
RAF Navigator| 1928 – 2007
Lionel “Digger” Turnbull was born in Australia in 1928, spending the first 5 years of his life in Frankstone a suburb of Melbourne. The family returned to Old Cornforth, County Durham for about 3 years and then moved to Norton, Stockton-on-Tees whenhe was 8, staying there until he joined the Army for his National Service.
At grammar school Digger quickly got his nickname which stayed with him throughout his life. In a lesson a master was asking where the boys were born and when the young Lionel replied that he was born in Australia, the master responded ‘Oh you are a Digger then.’ Since that day, only his mother and members of the medical profession have referred to him as Lionel.
Digger was always a bit of a rebel and enjoyed a love hate relationship with his head master. There were several times that parental visits were required and some lively discussions between said head and Digger’s father! On one occasion there was an important Soccer match at Middlesbrough. The schoolboys were banned from attending and Digger was also warned off by his parents. This was red rag to a bull and of course he went, sitting right in the line of sight of said head master! Thus triggering another round of parental visits to school.
On another occasion he had to do a cross country run in terrible weather. His mother thought he needed a little liquid sustenance to keep him going and supplied him with a small glass bottle of something suitably reviving! The inevitable happened and the ensuing fall-out was quite dramatic. It is not remembered who the school was most keen to punish Digger or his Mother! He was also a great champion of the underdog and would always try to prevent an injustice both verbally and physically, often to his own detriment. Throughout his life, he held strong views which he did not always keep to himself but he was always tolerant of others and respected their right to voice their opinions.
He was always a very keen sportsman at school and loved Cricket, played Soccer and participated in various athletics. He almost gained the ‘Victor Ludorum’ in his final year – coming a very close second. At university he enjoyed boxing. (Brokehis sister’s nose whilst shadow boxing as she came through a door!) He had good results at school and got a state scholarship to University, he joined St Cuthbert’s Society, Durham University to read History. He had to travel to Durham each day because residential places were reserved for servicemen returning from the war.
He did his National Service in the Durham Light Infantry (DLI), a regiment in which his father saw service and was decorated during the First World War. He loved Service Life and he loved living in Germany, where met both his future wife Margaret and Ken, his lifelong friend. During this time, his duties with the DLI included guarding Spandau Prison in Berlin, whilst a number of prominent German Prisoners of War, including Rudolf Hess were in residence. Although he enjoyed his time in the DLI, he preferred the ethos of the RAF and, together with Ken, joined for aircrew training (allegedly for the enhanced flying pay!) at the end of his National Service.
In 1952, he married Margaret, whilst she was still teaching in Germany and he had returned to the UK with the RAF. In the early years of their marriage, they lived in various parts of Yorkshire, during which time, Mark and Christine were born – apparently this was planned so that either were eligible to open the batting for Yorkshire County Cricket Club if called upon!
He flew as a navigator in Meteors and Canberras in Night Fighter and Photo Reconnaissance roles. In 1959 the family re-turned to Germany when Digger was posted to RAF Bruggen. Initially, the only accommodation available was 6 miles over the border in the Dutch town of Roermond, and so, whilst Father was a daily international commuter, the young Christine and Mark received much of their early education at a Dutch Convent.
Digger’s final posting was to Middleton St George in Teesside before leaving the RAF to become a civilian. Initially working for drinks manufacturer Schweppes and living in Southport before going into publishing and choosing to move to Worlingworth in 1969.