On the Thiepval Memorial is the name of 291005 Private George Taylor, serving with the 1st/7th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers who died 15/09/1916.
He was the son of Margaret Taylor, of Rock, Alnwick, Northumberland, and the late William Taylor.
His brother William was killed on the same day
His story has been researched by the Belford Museum.
Acknowledgments also to Eric Musgrave.
Pauline Priano has submitted the following.
George Taylor was one of 4 children and had 7 half siblings from his father’s first marriage.
His father William Taylor was born at Eglingham, Northumberland on April 7th 1826 where he was baptised on May 7th by his parents agricultural labourer Moses Taylor and his wife Jane.
William married Mary Railson with whom he had daughter Margaret in 1851, Mary 1855, Andrew 1858, John 1859, twins Robert and Ann in 1863 and twins Ralph and Matthew in 1866. In 1881 widower William Taylor a farmer and miller was living in the village of Eglingham with his son John and his younger sons and daughters all of whom were employed by him in some capacity.
At Alnwick Register Office on October 21st 1881 William Taylor (44) married Margaret Dunn who was the daughter of agricultural labourer William Dunn and Bridget Hind. Born on February 27th 1855 she was only 28 years old. The Dunn and Taylor family had known each other since Margaret was born as both families lived in the village of East Ditchburn in 1861.
Margaret gave birth to their son George on February 23rd 1882 who was baptised on March 26th 1892, to a daughter Jane on June 30th 1883, William in 1885, baptised on June 28th 1885 and Margaret in 1888. In 1891 they were living at Biddlestone Edge a farm near Rothbury where William was employed as a shepherd. George (9) and Jane (7) were scholars, William (5) and Margaret (3) remained at home with their mother.
After William Taylor died on June 6th 1897, Margaret transferred her family to Seaton House Cottages, Longhoughton near Alnwick. Although she was supported by George (19) working as a horseman and William (15) as a cartman she too was working on the farm while her daughters Jane (17) and Margaret (13) remained at home.
William Taylor was married in 1907, Jane Taylor in 1909 and by 1911 their mother Margaret and siblings horseman George Taylor (29) and farm labourer Margaret Taylor (23) had moved into a 4 roomed cottage in the farm steading village of Fenwick Steads, Belford, Northumberland.
As early as 1911 there were already rumblings of a possibility of war with Germany which was declared on August 4th 1914 when Germany ignored an ultimatum to withdraw her troops from Neutral Belgium.
Farming was one of the many reserve occupations that exempted men from military service however George and his brother William both volunteered and were assigned to the 7th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers.
The 7th Battalion N.F. Territorial Force had been raised in Northumberland with H.Q. at Fenwick Street, Alnwick with companies “A” through to “H” spread across the area at Copper Charm in Morpeth, Ashington, Belford, Alnwick, Amble and Berwick upon Tweed.
The battalion departed to France in April 1915 where it was attached to the 149th Brigade, 50th Northumbrian Division and without any training in trench warfare was sent into the front line during the 2nd Battle of Ypres in Belgium in May 1915.
Private 7/3811 George Taylor renumbered as 291005 departed joining his regiment during the spring of 1916 in France where preparations were well underway for the commencement of the Battles of the Somme.
The opening attack, due to begin on June 29th 1916, was delayed by bad weather until July 1st 1916. On that morning at 07.28 a.m.two huge detonations took place in the explosive packed tunnels under the German lines and at 07.30 the whistles blew and the men went over the top.
The 50th Division did not take part in any major encounter until the Battle of Flers-Courcelette September 15th-22nd 1916. At its conclusion Private 291005 George Taylor was reported as missing and his mother would have been informed. After extensive enquiries as to his whereabouts any hope of her son being found alive or wounded was dashed when it was confirmed to her that his death was presumed to have taken place on September 15th 1916. George was 34 years old and single.
This news came as an ulterior blow to his mother as it had been confirmed on October 13th 1916 to his brother William’s wife that Private William Taylor had also been killed in action on September 15th 1916.
The names of Private 291005 George Taylor and Private 291002 William Taylor 7th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers are inscribed on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, Thiepval, France commemorating servicemen from Great Britain and South Africa who died on the Somme 1915-1918 who have no known grave.
George in his Will had nominated his mother Margaret as sole legatee. She received all monies due to her late son from the Army, his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal and a pension in the sum of 11 shillings awarded on June 15th 1917 to be received weekly and backdated to June 5th 1917 sent to her at Outeheaton Farm, Belford, Northumberland.
In 1921 Margaret (64) was living at Rock, Northumberland with her nephew Harold Kent, his wife Margaret Jane and their 2 young children as their cook. Harold had also taken into their home his mother in law Jane Elizabeth Shea (62).
Margaret Taylor nee Dunn died in the district of Alnwick in 1936.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
George Taylor is remembered at Bamburgh on B3.01, B3.02, B3.05, at Belford on B16.01, B16.02 page 7, B16.05 and B16.07 and in the Battalion History.
