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Vincent Taylor (1892-1917)


Newark born man served in the 15th Battalion Durham Light Infantry


Vincent Taylor was born in Newark in 1892, the oldest son of house decorator William and Kezia Taylor. In 1901 Vincent was living with his parents and four of his siblings at 9 Wilson Street, Newark. Vincent’s father died in 1909 leaving his mother Kezia to care for the remaining children in the household, the youngest of whom would have been six. By 1911 Vincent had moved out of the family home to Lincoln. He was boarding with the Hurst family at 31 Portland Street, where he was working as a confectioner.

Vincent attested at Lincoln on 8 December 1915 and was transferred to the Army Reserve as private 25800. On 26 December 1915 Vincent married Ethel May Roberts. The following year their son Basil Rhodes Taylor was born on 10 November 1916.

Vincent’s service records contain an application from his employer made in January 1916 requesting that he be allowed to remain working rather than being called up to serve. He is described as invaluable both in his work producing bread for the business but also in his work at a military hospital. The employer describes his unsuccessful attempts to find other employees to cover the men he had lost to enlistment. The decision was made that Vincent was “not individually indispensable for the employer’s business” and therefore the application was disallowed.

Vincent was mobilised on 11 May 1916 and posted to the 11th Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment at Rugeley Camp. On 28 July 1916 Vincent was promoted to Acting Lance Corporal, a position he was not paid for. Whilst still based at Rugeley Camp, in September of the same year, Vincent was transferred to the 9th Training Reserve. On 14 December Vincent was found to be absent at the time the soldiers were alerted to assembly, known as ‘Reveille’. He did not return until 8pm, an offense for which the punishment is unclear.

Shortly after this incident Vincent travelled to France. On 24 December 1916 he was posted to the 15th Battalion Durham Light Infantry (DLI) at Etaples to serve as private 53491. On 9 April 1917 he was reported missing and later confirmed as killed in action.

Vincent was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal for his services during the First World War and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, Bay 8. His widow received his effects of 13s 7d and a gratuity of £3.

Birth date: 1892

Death date: 9-Apr-1917

Armed force/civilian: Army

Residence: 9 Wilson Street, Newark (1901 Census)
31 Portland Street, Lincoln (1911 Census)
121 Ripon Street, Lincoln (Service Records, 1915)
83 Charles Street, Newark (Mother’s address CWGC website)
9 Grafton Street, Lincoln (Wife’s address CWGC website)

Employment: Confectioner (1911 Census, Service Records)

Family: Parents: William Taylor (1863–1909), Kezia Taylor (b1864)
Siblings: Helena Milicent Taylor (b1888), Constance Mary Taylor (b1890), Ethel Emily Taylor (b1895), Lawrence William Taylor (b1899), Doris Taylor (b1903)
Wife: Ethel May Taylor nee Roberts
Child: Basil Rhodes Taylor

Military service:

11th Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment
Private
Service Number 25800
Acting Lance Corporal
9th Training Reserve
15th Battalion Durham Light Infantry
Private
Service Number 53491

Medal(s): British War Medal
Victory Medal

Memorial(s): Arras Memorial
Book of Remembrance 1914-18 DLI, Durham Cathedral
War Memorial, St Benedict’s Square, Lincoln

Gender: Male

Contributed by Harold P, Durham


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