Duncan Neil Turnbull, Leading Weapon Engineering Mechanic (Ordnance)

Service documents and journal of Leading Weapon Engineering Mechanic (Ordnance) Duncan Neil Turnbull.

Related materials at RMG:

Photograph of Duncan Turnbull taken on day of interview (RMG ID: ZBA9721)
Identity tag (RMG ID: ZBB0022)
Arm badge (RMG ID: ZBB0023)
Arm badge (RMG ID: ZBB0024)

Administrative / biographical background
Duncan Neil Turnbull was born in 1963. He joined the Royal Navy in 1980 and began his training on HMS Collingwood as a Junior Weapons Engineering Mechanic 2nd Class. He joined HMS Glasgow in 1981 at Portsmouth and travelled to North America and the Caribbean, where he served at the Atlantic Underwater Test and Evaluation Centre in the Bahamas. From 1981-1983 he served as Weapons Engineering Mechanic (Ordnance) in HMS HERMES, which was the flagship of the Royal Navy during the Falklands War in 1982. In 1983 he joined the HMS COCHRANE shore establishment to work at the Fleet Maintenance Group. In 1984 he was promoted to Acting Leading Weapons Engineering Mechanic (Ordnance). From 1985-1989 he served in HMS Glasgow, during which time he performed songs and produced the ship’s magazine. In 1987 he was reported for ‘gross indecency’ which he denied. He returned to HMS COCHRANE in 1989, and was discharged on 16 June of that year. He gave 18 months’ notice and joined the Royal Fleet Reserve from 17 June. Turnbull, as a gay man in the Royal Navy, faced hostile treatment and bullying [homophobia] and was forced to conceal his relationships. He joined ‘Rank Outsiders’, an organisation that supported LGBTQi+ servicemen and women. The ban on homosexuality in the Armed Forces was lifted in 2000. Turnbull has now retrained as a counsellor and psychotherapist and works with Veterans Aid.