He was born at Brampton, Cumberland, on the 26th September 1895. The eldest son of John George Taylor of the School House, Longtown, Cumberland, a schoolmaster and his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Edgar, Newcastle.
William was educated at the County Secondary School, Brampton, and then Bede College, Durham. Enlisted in November 1912 with the 4th (Territorial) Battalion The Border Regiment, transferred to the 1/8th (Territorial) Battalion Durham Light Infantry in November 1913.
Served in France and Flanders from April 1915. Then transferred to the Royal Engineers.
He was killed in action north of Langemarck hit by a bursting shell on the 12th October 1917.
His commanding officer wrote: He was hit by a bursting shell whilst performing a most gallant and noble piece of work. Taylor and his men have always behaved with magnificent courage, the men taking an example from him, and I feel that the Signal Service has lost much by his untimely end.
Source: De Ruvigny Roll of Honour
