Elston Grey-Turner Explained

Elston Grey-Turner (16 August 1916 – 20 January 1984) was a British medical doctor who served in World War II and was on the staff of the British Medical Association for many years.

Education

The son of surgeon George Grey Turner, he was educated at Winchester College and Trinity College, Cambridge.^[1] He qualified in medicine in 1942.

Service in World War II

He joined the Royal Army Medical Corps and served as regimental medical officer to the 2nd Battalion of the Coldstream Guards, 1942–1945. Among his assignments, he served at the Battle of Monte Cassino.^[2] He was awarded the Territorial Decoration, and also the Military Cross.^[3]

Service in the British Medical Association

In 1948, he joined the staff of the British Medical Association. He was secretary from 1976–79. He was made vice president in 1982.

Diarist and historian

He was a diarist whose notes about the war, the British Medical Association, and the development of the National Health Service have served as primary source material for researchers.^{[4] [5]} He also was the Association's historian, and co-author of History of the British Medical Association.^[6]

Burial

He is buried at St Peter's Church, Petersham.

Surviving papers

His papers are archived at the Wellcome Library.^[7]

Notes and References

1. Obituary: E Grey-Turner. BMJ. 28 January 1984. 288. 6413. 332–334. 24 August 2015. 1444025. 10.1136/bmj.288.6413.332 .
2. Book: Harrison, Mark . Medicine and Victory: British Military Medicine in the Second World War . 2004-07-01 . OUP Oxford . 978-0-19-151496-8 . 163 . en.
3. Book: Paget, Julian . Second to None: The History of the Coldstream Guards, 1650–2000 . 2000-09-11 . Pen and Sword . 978-1-78337-939-2 . en.
4. Grey-Turner . Elston . 1980-12-20 . Medical History: Pages from a diary . Br Med J . en . 281 . 6256 . 1692–1695 . 10.1136/bmj.281.6256.1692 . 0007-1447 . 1715716 . 20793253.
5. Book: Grimes, Sharon Schildein . The British National Health Service: State Intervention in the Medical Marketplace, 1911-1948 . 2016-09-13 . Routledge . 978-1-315-46919-5 . en.
6. Murley . R. . December 1984 . A tale of turbulent times . British Medical Journal (Clinical Research Ed.) . 289 . 6460 . 1782–1783 . 10.1136/bmj.289.6460.1782 . 0267-0623 . 1444805 . 6440653.
7. Web site: Grey Turner, Elston . 2022-05-01 . Wellcome Library Western Manuscripts and Archives catalogue.