Turner, Captain Albert Barr (1864-1948) UK

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Category: SKIPPERS & CREWS

03423VCaptain Albert Barr Turner was a fishing skipper of Wivenhoe who developed a reputation for winning races. He was a member of the large Barr family through his mother.

He married in 1887 with Caroline Mattock. They had three children : Caroline Maud bn.1888, Hannah bn.1890, and Gertrude bn.1892.

TurnerA2They lived at several addresses in Wivenhoe including Fishermans Square, West St, Anchor hill, and when he died in 1948 he was living at Belgrave House in the High St.

Captain Turner was for some years professional skipper in William P. Burton's yachts. When Sir Thomas Lipton challenged for the four time in 1914, he chooses his friend Sir William Burton for manage Shamrock IV. So, Captain Turner will be the helmsman of the new boat.
On 18 July 1914, under the command of Captain Turner, SHAMROCK IV left Portsmouth for the U.S.A. under tow by Lipton's steam yacht, Erin. 04777SLipton's plans were altered on August 7, when Colonel Neil, in charge of Erin, received a message announcing the start of hostilities between Germany and England. The First World War was underway. Shamrock IV reached New York on 13 August 1914. She was hauled out and boxed up at the Shewan shipyard, foot of Twenty-seventh Street, South Brooklyn until 1920.

The races for America's Cup 1920 was sailed from 15 to 27 July 1920, at New York. Having shaken the Americans leading 2-0, Shamrock IV finally tilted 3-2 against Resolute.

His Royal Highness’ yacht, BRITANNIA, was amazingly successful, winning thirty- three of the forty or so races in which she competed in her first year. On Edward VII’s death, his son, George, had the Britannia refitted. Captain Albert Turner of Wivenhoe was her new skipper and he captained her to many successes during the 1920s. TBritanniaShe was the oldest yacht in many of these races, but even so, Turner managed to heat the most up-to-date and modern boats against which he was competing. Turner secured 326 prizes for the King's yacht, including 216 firsts, during the 12 years he served King George from 1923 to 1935. It was George V’s wish that the Britannia should follow him to his grave and after his death in 1936, she was towed out into the water around the Isle of Wight and sunk.

13 Aug 1923: The King gave Captain Albert Turner, the skipper of his racing Britannia, a gold scarf pin bearing the Britannia's racing Hag and the Prince of Wales’s leather on a red and white ground.TAplaque
3 Oct 1931: BRITANNIA obtained 13 prize flags in 20 starts.
1932: Captain Albert Barr Turner, of Wivenhoe, skipper of the King's racing cutter Britannia, was decorated the King with the silver medal of the Victorian Order.

13 Sep 1948: Captain Albert Barr Turner died last night at his home at Wivenhoe, on the River Colne, near Colchester.

On Sunday 14th October 2007, Chairman of Wivenhoe's Nottage Maritime Institute, Richard Barnard, the Management Committee of the Nottage together with an invited crowd, were present outside Malting House, No 74 High Street, currently owned by Ian and Charlotte Narbeth, for an unveiling of a plaque commemorating the life of Captain Albert Turner who lived at that address from 1930 until 1948.

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