On Portsmouth Naval Memorial is the name of P/SSX 21131 Able Seaman Sidney Taylor, serving on H.M.S. Royal Oak with the Royal Navy who died 14/10/1939.

Eoin Gallacher has submitted the following:-

Sidney Taylor was born at Ashington in 1920, to parents John Taylor and Bridget McMenemy, being baptised at St. Aidan’s later that year. As a boy Sidney dreamt of being out at sea, after leaving school he worked at Woodhorn Colliery as a transit hand. In 1937 his parents consented to him joining the Royal Navy serving as a cook, his address was 91 Sycamore Street, Ashington. He served aboard the Courageous, Ark Royal and finally the Royal Oak.

Able Seaman Sidney Taylor was lost at sea on the 14th October 1939, aboard the Royal Oak, when it was hit by a torpedo and sunk.

Harold Quinn, another Parishioner was lost on the same day, both being listed on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial.

Sidney’s elder brother Henry, was killed in action with the East Yorkshire Regiment a year later.

The Newcastle Journal 19/10/1939 reports:
Another victim, Sydney Taylor, 19 years old son of Mr. and Mrs. Jack Taylor, of Sycamore Street, Ashington, had since childhood set his mind on a seafaring career. So melancholy did he become that his parents eventually consented to his joining the Navy. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor, yesterday received from their son’s messmates who survived the disaster a letter of sympathy.

Acknowledgements: Margaret Allison

Sidney Taylor is remembered at Ashington on A17.43 and on our List of Ships’ crews.