We regret to advise of the death of Colonel Malcolm Turner, CD (Ret'd) on 16 September 2002 at the age of 82, in Fishermen's Memorial Hospital, Lunenburg,NS after a formidable battle with cancer.
Malcolm Turner joined 1st Field Company, Royal Canadian Engineers (RCE) in 1937 and entered Royal Military College in Kingston later that year. He remained at RMC until December 1939 when he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force. The next spring he was commissioned in the Corps of Royal Canadian Engineers in April 1940, Colonel Turner served in Halifax and Petawawa before proceeding overseas. He served in Britain with the 1st and 2nd Canadian Divisional Engineers and with the Royal Engineers of the British First Army in North Africa. In late 1943 Colonel Turner was appointed Second-in-Command of 8th Field Squadron, RCE. He landed in France in Summer 1944 and was Commanding Officer of 8th Field Squadron at the end of the war, having served with the unit through France, Belgium, Holland and Germany.
After the war Colonel Turner completed his university education at Queen's University, Kingston and graduated in 1947 with a degree in civil engineering. He then served for five years in Construction Engineering in Halifax and Fredericton, including a two year appointment as Area Engineer. He next commanded 57th Independent Field Squadron (1952- 1953) and, after completing Staff College in England, was appointed Second-in-Command of 1st Field Engineer Regiment. Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, Malcolm was then appointed Area Engineer, British Columbia. He was next a member of the Directing Staff of the Canadian Army Staff College (1959 - 1963). In 1963, he was appointed Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff (Logistics) on the staff of Headquarters Northern Army Group in Germany. In 1965 he was promoted to colonel and appointed Chief of Staff, Headquarters Eastern Command in Halifax for a year before becoming Commander, Nova Scotia District in 1966. In 1967 he was appointed Commander Atlantic Area and held that appointment until his retirement in September 1969.
Following retirement, Colonel Turner held a number of positions in the private and government sectors including Manager of Administration at Sydney Steel Corporation and Regional Director, Emergency Planning Canada in New Brunswick. Malcolm gave very generously of his time and talents to many organizations: he was President of the Military Engineers Association of Canada, President of New Brunswick Army Cadet League, Vice President of Nova Scotia Army Cadet League, was a member of Canadian Military Colleges Advisory Board, Chairman of Cape Breton Branch of the Navy League of Canada, Vice President of Fredericton and Area United Services Institute, Chairman and member of Board of Governors Nova Scotia Division Canadian Corps of Commissionaires, a member of National Executive Canadian Corps of Commissionaires, Executive Branch 44, a Life Member of the Royal Canadian Legion, Honorary Lieutenant Colonel No. 6 Medical Company Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps, Assistant District Commissioner of Boy Scouts, Vancouver, Vice Chairman of Halifax Citadel Foundation, Governor Army Museum Halifax Citadel, and Honorary Member of the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Trades. He held memberships the Royal Military College Club, Royal United Services Institute of Nova Scotia, Institution of Royal Engineers, and was a Life Member of the Association of Professional Engineers of Nova Scotia. In addition to having been awarded the Canadian Forces Decoration, Colonel Turner was the recipient of the Commissionaire Distinguished Service Medal as well as the Commemorative Medals for both Canada's Centennial and for the 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Royal Canadian Legion, Chester or Shoreham Village Home for Special Care, Chester..{khMay2016}