In Noordschote Churchyard, Belgium is the Commonwealth War Grave of 4342809 Corporal Henry Taylor, serving with the 2nd Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment who died 31/05/1940.

Eoin Gallacher has submitted the following:-

Henry “Harry” Taylor was born in 1915 at Blaydon, Co Durham, to parents John “Jack” Taylor and Bridget McMenemy. By 1917 the family had moved to Ashington, Northumberland. John, Henry’s father, was a former English International rugby player.

Henry played football as a boy and later enlisted in the East Yorkshire Regiment in 1933 where he played for the regimental football team. He was allocated the service number 4342809 and sent to the 2nd Battalion, reaching the rank of Corporal.

In 1939 the family address was 91 Sycamore Street. Sidney, Henry’s younger brother, was lost at sea serving in the Royal Navy on the 14th October 1939.

Henry served several months in France, after which he was allowed home on leave.

Seven weeks later Corporal Henry Taylor was killed in action on the 31st May 1940, he was aged 25 years.

The Morpeth Herald 28/06/1940 reports:-
Mr. and Mrs. J. T. Taylor, of Sycamore Street, Ashington, have suffered their second bereavement in consequence of the war official information having been received that a second son has given his life in his country’s service. Their 25 year old, Lance Corporal Henry Taylor has been killed in action in France, and a younger son, Able Seaman Sidney Taylor, was lost in the “Royal Oak.”

Lance Corporal Taylor had been in the Army for seven years. He was a member of the regimental football team and held numerous medals won when he was playing junior football in the Ashington district. Seven weeks ago he was home on leave from France, his first leave since the outbreak of war.

Acknowledgments: Margaret Allison

Henry Taylor is remembered in Ashington on A17.43