Taylor, William

Rank:

Driver

Regiment:

Royal Engineers

Regimental No. & Battalion

61109; 84th Field Coy

Status:

Died from wounds in action

Research Notes

Source Simon Johnson (relative)

William Taylor was attested as a Private with the Sherwood Foresters (Derbyshire Regiment) on the 31st January 1900. His regimental number was 7373. He was stationed at home until the 22nd February. He was then stationed in South Africa from the 23rd February 1900 until the 28th April 1901, and returned home on the 29th April, which is when he was discharged. He was awarded the Queen's South Africa Medal, which was awarded to all military personnel who served in the Second Boer War in South Africa. This medal survives with William's nephew in Derbyshire. Various clasps were added to the medal to to indicate each action and campaign of the war. William's medal has four clasps which indicate his service in Johannesburg, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, and Diamond Hill.

William was the oldest of the eleven children of Samuel Taylor and Elizabeth Wilson (though four of these died in infancy or early childhood). He was born at his mother's native Ashover in Derbyshire, in 1878. William was born out of wedlock (shortly before his parents' marriage), and so only his mother's details are provided on the birth registration, on which his name is registered as 'William Wilson'. He never married and fathered no children.

From William Taylor's Service Record –

C of E; Address Wheatcroft, Critch; aged 38 years 2 months; farmers; previously served with 2nd Volunteer Battn Notts & Derby; height 5ft 6½in; weight 148lb; next of kin Elizabeth Taylor, Wheatcroft (mother); attested 01/01/15; embarked 22/07/15; died from wounds rec. in action; leave to UK 12/12/16 to 22/12/16; Lose two days pay 06/02/17 for having dirty harness (OPEN ARREST) 23/02/17 Adm. to hospital; 23/03/17 rejoined unit from hospital; 17/08/17 Admitted to hospital; 24/08/17 Rejoined Unit from hospital; 29/11/17 died of wounds (gun shot wound to abdomen); 24/10/17 whilst on active service - stealing rum from CQMS Store; returned to mother his pipe and pencil, also7/2 separation allowance and 3/6 allotment of pay; 27/04/15 overstaying his pass from noon 27/04/15 to 9 pm 27/04/15 absent 9 hours (witness L/Cpl Hight) punishment 4 days confined to barracks and forfeit one days pay
Sisters: Sarah Ellen Stone aged 30, Moorwood Moor; Gertrude Luigley aged 28, Norbriggs; Florence Hannah Taylor aged 25, Wheatcroft; Edith Smith aged 23, Sherwood St Derby; Ada Taylor aged 21, Wheatcroft.

Derbyshire Times: 22nd December 1917

Mrs Taylor, Wheatcroft, Crich, has received news that her only son, Driver William Taylor, has been killed in action. The news was conveyed in the following letter from the matron of the Casualty Clearing Station, France, dated November 28th: – "It is with great regret I have to tell you of the death this day of your son, Driver W. Taylor, from wounds received in action. He came to us this morning so severely wounded in the abdomen that all we could do for him was of no avail, for he succumbed to his injuries shortly after admission. His end was peaceful and free from pain. It may be of some little comfort to you to know he did not suffer. With sincere sympathy" Driver Taylor, who was 39 years of age and single, servrd with the Sherwood Foresters for three years during the South African war. In February, 1915, he joined the Royal Engineers, and six months afterwards was sent to France. He formerly worked at the Oakerthorpe Colliery and is well known in the Crich and Ashover district.

Source CWGC

Courtesy Simon Johnson

1901 Census: Plaistow Green

1911 Census: Hay, Ashover

RG14PN21057 RG78PN1256 RD438 SD1 ED3 SN47

Photo courtesy Simon Johnson

William Taylor in "civis"