George Taylor

Forename(s):
George

Surname:
Taylor

Initial(s):
G

Service Number:
40724

Rank:
Private

Regiment:
Northamptonshire Regiment, 1st Battalion

Died:
17/10/1918

Aged:
26

Buried:
Vis-en-Artois Memorial (Vis-en-Artois British Cemetery), Panel 7

Service History:
The Battle of the Selle commenced on 17 October 1918. Tragically, Taylor was killed on the first day of this battle which ended after a week & made huge gains. 25 days after George was killed the Armistice was signed & the First World War came to an end.

N.B. Taylor served with the same regiment & in the same battalion as Robert James Harvey who is also on the Edlingham Tablet.
(Source: Research by Joyce Brison & Peggy Maunder on the men on Edlingham War Memorial)

Background:
Born 1893 at Alwinton, Northumberland, the son of George (b.1856 at Ancroft, Northumberland) & Mary Anne (née Henderson; b. 1857 at Ford) Taylor. They were living at Mount Hooley Farm, Whittingham, Northumberland at the time of their son's death.

The parents married at the beginning of 1879 in the Belford district of Northumberland. The 1881 Census records George Snr. as an Agricultural Labourer, living with Mary Ann in Preston Village, near Belford. Also living at the address was Mary Henderson, aunt to Mary Ann, who was single, aged 52 & a Domestic Housekeeper.

The family was still at Preston in 1891 when there were two children, Thomas (b.1887) & Mary (b.1889). Also lodging at the address was Hannah Henderson, aged 23, who was described as an Agricultural Labourer.

By 1901 George Snr. was described as a Farm Steward & he & Mary Ann were living in Snitter Village, near Rothbury. Their son Thomas, aged 14, was an Agricultural Labourer, & Taylor was aged 8. Hannah Henderson was still with the family & shown as a cousin. She worked as a Domestic Cook.

The 1911 Census records the family living at Elilaw, near Rothbury, where George Snr. was the Farm Steward. Daughter Mary, aged 22, was working on the farm as was Taylor who is shown as a Farm Labour(er) with Horses Hind (i.e., specialising in handling horses).

Local Memorial:
Edlingham, Memorial Tablet in St. John the Baptist Church Whittingham, Roll of Honour at St. BartholomewÂ’s Church Whittingham & Callaly 1914-1918 Memorial Stone