William Taylor (1884-1917)
Brandon Colliery man served with 18th DLI commemorated at Arras
William Taylor was born on 15 August 1884 to Thomas (a railway engine driver) and Isabella Taylor. He was their youngest son and child. In 1891 he was living with his eldest brother (a music teacher) and sister in Hope Street, Crook. His father was in Sunnybrow with another son. He attended Shotton Colliery Infants School for a year, 1896-1897.
In 1901 William was living alone with both parents at 14 Helmington Terrace, Sunnybrow. He was working as a coalminer putter. He married Elizabeth Jane Tinsley at Durham Registry Office on 29 October 1910 and had two children, Dorothy, born 1911 and, William, born 1915. In 1911 William and Elizabeth were living at 4 Park Street, Brandon Colliery where William was a coalminer, hewer.
On 23 September 1914 William attested at Durham and became private 625 and was posted to 18th Battalion Durham Light Infantry at Cocken Hall. He spent the next 18 months in camps in Cocken Hall, Ripon and Fovant before embarking to France and joining his unit in the field in May 1916.
On 3 May 1917 he was posted missing, later changed to killed.
Civil Parish: Brandon and Byshottles
Birth date: 15-Aug-1884
Death date: 03-May-1917
Armed force/civilian: Army
Residence: 1891 Hope Street, Crook
1901 Helmington Row, Sunnybrow, Auckland
1911 4 Park Street, Brandon Colliery
1914 35 High Street, Brandon Colliery (service attestation)
Education: Shotton Colliery Infants School (29-Sep-1896 to 21-Aug-1897)
Religion: Church of England
Employment: Miner 1901,1911,1914
Family: Father: Thomas b1845? d1911
Mother: Isabella Taylor nee Middlewood b1846
Brothers: Thomas b1870, Alfred b1874, John Edward b1876, Charles B b1879, Arthur RB b1880, Walter James b1882
Sisters: Mary Ann b1872
Military service:
Attested at Durham 23-Sep-1914, private 625, DLI
26-Sep-1914 Posted to 18th Battalion DLI at Cocken Hall
01-May-1915 At Cocken Hall absent from Tattoo till 2- May- 1915, 14 days CB and 2 days forfeiture (Coincides with birth of son William at Brandon)
12-Jul-1916 at Ripon absent from 11.30PM till 09.20PM next day, 14 days CB
30-Oct-1915 at Fovant absent from Tattoo till next day, 9 days CB and 10 days forfeiture
08-Apr-1916 Embarked France
07- May-1916 joined unit in field
03-May-1917 Reported missing presumed dead
Medal(s): British War Medal
Victory Medal
Memorial(s): Arras Memorial
Cenotaph, Crook
Gender: Male
Contributed by Harold P, Durham
