William H. Taylor | Christleton

William Taylor

Name:

William Taylor - Son of William and Ann Taylor of Christleton

Birth Place:

Christleton, Cheshire. (Kinnerton on Army records!)

Regiment:

Cheshire Regiment

Battalion:

1st Battalion

Rank:

L/Corporal

Number:

12746

Medal Card Reference:

WO 372/19/181907

Enlistment Location:

Chester 3rd September 1914. Age 20 years 11months

Death Date:

5th July 1918. Age 24 years

Death Location:

France & Flanders. Aire Communal Cemetery France.

Type of Casualty:

Died of wounds in a battle where gas was used, and he was badly affected by the gas. He died at the 54th Casualty Clearing Station at Aire, St Omer, Pas de Calais

Theatre of War:

Western European Theatre
Injured at the Battle of Hazebrook 12/15th April 1918.

Commemorated:

Commemorated on the War Memorial, Church Memorial at St James’ & Christleton Institute Memorial Board.

A Memorial Service was held for William at St James' August 1918.

William was born in 1894 to William and Anne Taylor of Plough Lane Christleton. According to the 1911 census he was a domestic groom and he lived at home with siblings; William 17, Albert 12, Amy 10, and Jane 4. As he was posted to France on 25th September 1915 he must have joined the colours fairly close to the outbreak of the Great War. As his service number never changed from 12746 it appears that he served his entire service with the 1st Battalion of the Cheshire Regiment. According to the battalion diary for July 1918 the troops were in a period of rest and training. However on the 2nd July after bathing, the battalion was shelled in the night, with both gas and high explosive. There were 5 other ranks killed, 13 wounded from the high explosive and another 17 from the gas. William was one of these. He was taken to the 54th Casualty Clearing Station, where he died five days later.

Service Record in France:
25/09/1915- 11/06/1917
07/09/1917- 05/07/1918

Obituary
Cheshire Observer. 20th July 1918
Patriotism of another brave parishioner Corporal William Taylor, Plough Lane- Cheshire Regiment has made the supreme sacrifice in performance of National Duty. The rector referred feelingly to deceased. Special psalms and hymns sung by the choir. Deepest sympathy extended to bereaved family.

The Rector Revd. G.M.V. Hickey writes

He died of wounds received in France. He fought on three fronts