There was originally no information about this man in the EJBA.
When he started researching the field, Jim Boys included only those men he knew from records had actually arrived in the Crimea and were entitled to the Crimea Medal. He later accepted that this was too restrictive, but was unable to add all the men who embarked for but did not reach the Crimea. Many, for example, died en route at Varna, Bulgaria, where epidemic diseases such as cholera were rife in the camps. Others arrived too late to qualify.
The current editors are intending to include these men, and will be adding information as soon as possible.
Further information, Crider 3rd edition p.119.
Robert Farquharson describes Samuel Turner's death from cholera, August/September 1854:
I had been fretting very much at Varna; the sight of so many comrades being carried away every day to be buried had a sad, depressing effect. Cholera raged most terribly in the camp, and victims were being buried at the rate of sixty a day!As showing how rapidly it carried off its victims, I may just mention the case of Sam Turner, an officer's servant, and one of the best men in our regiment. He and I had arranged to go together to a little place about a mile from our camp, called Greek-town, to make a few purchases. Just as we were stating, about 10 o'clock, Sam's master called out for him, so he told me to walk on and he would overtake me. I strolled slowly along till I came to the Cemetery, where a lot of men of different regiments were busy digging graves. I waited here a short time, and then went on to Greek-town.
I called at the bazaar there (every town and village in Turkey has its bazaar), and, after spending about half-an-hour in the place, I took the road back to the camp. Passing by the Cemetery again saw a fatigue-party of my own regiment digging a grave. I asked who this was for; and my feelings may be imagined when they told me it was for poor Sam Turner. He had been seized by cholera immediately after my parting with him and died; and he was buried before I got back to camp, for I met the funeral party a little way farther on. The occurrence gave me such a shock that I could not return with them to the grave to see the last of one of the best fellows I ever met in the British army.
[Source: Robert Farquharson, Reminiscences of Crimean Campaigning and Russian Imprisonment, Glasgow 1883 (?), pp.12-13. His account also appears in the serialised version published in the Newcastle Courant, 1 August 1891, which continues "Turner was a good soldier, and was highly respected by all the officers and men in the regiment."]
Born at: Worcester.
Occupation: Weaver.
Regiment no: 685.
Enlisted: 11 or 29 06 1832 Birmingham [Honour the Light Brigade has 1831].
Troop number: 1834: Depot Troop.
Rank: 1832: Private.
1834-1835: Private.
1839: Private, Scinde.
1841: Private.
1854: Private.
Notes: 1st Quarter 1834: Recruiting at Salisbury.
Embarkations:
27 06 1835, Morley, England - 16 10 1835, Morley, Bombay, India
10 11 1841, Mary, Bombay, India - 12 03 1842, Mary, Gravesend, England.
Campaigns: 1st Afghan War.
Died: 31 08 1854 Varna, of Cholera.
Next of kin: Small account book lost, no record of next of kin.
TNA sources: WO/12/642-645, WO/12/649, WO/12/651.
[Source: http://shadowsoftime.co.nz/4ths/dragoont/turner3.html (accessed 24.1.2014).]