Fr David Strong SJ, The Australian dictionary of Jesuit biography 1848-2015, Second Edition, 2017:
Turner, Victor

Military chaplain, spiritual director; born North Adelaide, South Australia, 25 October 1905; died Melbourne, 29 December 1990, aged 85.

Victor Turner was educated to sub-intermediate level at St Aloysius' College, Milson's Point, NSW, 1915-20, before attending Business College for over a year. He spent five years as an insurance clerk in Vacuum Oil Company, and during that time thought about being a diocesan priest, a Columban, a Dominican, or a Redemptorist before deciding to apply for the Jesuits. He entered the noviciate at Greenwich, 7 September 1927, and spent ten years in England and Ireland in the normal studies of the Society without doing regency.

Returning to Australia in 1939, he taught at Riverview as a successful prefect, teacher and counselor. He took great interest in games, especially cricket and rowing. However, his stay was short, as, when World War II broke out in 1939, and there was an appeal for Army chaplains, Turner volunteered in November 1940, and the next year went to New Guinea with the 2/22nd battalion of the Eighth Division. He was well respected by the troops, joining them in the 'beer mess', and caring especially for the spiritual needs of those Catholics who were less than fervent.

On 25 February 1942 he was taken prisoner by the Japanese and was confined to local prison camps. In July of that year he was sent to prison camps in Japan until the end of the war. During this time he was openly able to administer to the spiritual needs of other prisoners, even saying Mass most of the time. At the first camp, Zentsuji, in southern Japan, he also gave courses in English literature, philosophy and religion, and was considered a good teacher. Fellow prisoners appreciated him for his 'practical and interesting' sermons, and for the human way he connected so well with people. In June 1945 he was transferred to a camp in Hokkaido, where the cold was intense and the conditions very poor. They were relieved to experience the end of the war in August, and the Americans air-dropped supplies of food and clothing on the camp. When released, Turner returned to Australia via Sapporo and Yokohama. When reflecting upon his experiences, he considered himself privileged to have ministered in such miserable prisoner of war camps. Fellow prisoners later expressed that his optimism had given them encouragement. As a result of his war experiences he received a total invalid pension from the Australian Government.

After his return to Australia in 1946, he served at St Ignatius' Church, Richmond, before joining a 'mission staff' giving parish missions and retreats around the country. After three years at this work, because of the shortage of priests, this idea of 'mission priests' was abandoned, and Turner was appointed to Belloc House from 1951, working hard to break communistic influence in the Trade Unions. He was also director of retreats in Victoria and South Australia, and showed particular interest in the newly arrived Asian students then enrolling at Australian universities

During this time Turner had a coronary thrombosis, but made a good recovery. However, he was given less strenuous work and sent to Werribee in 1958 to be instructor and counselor for the young seminarians. This work he performed successfully until he was transferred to Loyola College, Watsonia for ten years in 1963 to be spiritual director to the scholastics, a job he undertook with fidelity and dedication.

From 1974 Turner lived quietly at the Provincial House in Hawthorn for 16 years. In his ill health he learnt to live within his strength and gave edification to those who encountered him. He was bright and cheerful in community, giving retreats and spiritual direction, and was available as a confessor.

In his spiritual life he struggled with human weaknesses, conscious of his need for divine help to be a more perfect religious.

During his many years of ill health, Turner stood and waited. He let the Lord be the master of the years. He was not an intellectual high-flyer, but tirelessly interested in learning. He was enthusiastic and optimistic about life, and welcomed all with cheerfulness. With a smile he claimed that his secret for a long life was to do as little as possible. He was an enjoyable person to engage in conversation, especially about trains and ships.

(Reproduced by permission of Fr David Strong SJ.)