'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. During the operations about Bapaume on the 24th August 1918, after Sergeant Turnbull was held up by machine gun fire, he pushed his platoon forward and took up an advanced position. When heavily counter attacked, he so checked the enemy that the remaining three platoons of his Company were able to consolidate, this saving a retirement. He showed great personal courage and contempt of danger at the same time manoeuvring his platoon in such a manner as to inflict great loss on the enemy with slight losses to his own platoon.'
Source: London Gazette
Date: 11 February 1919