Add New Content


Please log in or register to add new content.

Login

Report Inaccuracies


Henry Jefferys Taylor (1881-1962)


Architect's son served with 4th and 2nd DLI later awarded DSO


Henry Jefferys Taylor, the son of Henry and Ursula Taylor, was born in Chorlton, Lancashire, on 24 May 1881. He had two brothers and a sister and, after being educated at Speldhurst Lodge School, Speldhurst, Kent and Wellington College, was commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant in the 3rd (Militia) Battalion Durham Light Infantry (DLI) in December 1899.

Henry served in South Africa from 11 January 1900 until 3 March 1901 during the Second Boer War, being posted to the 4th Battalion in December 1901. In October 1904 he was promoted to lieutenant and he became a captain in September 1914 when he landed in France. He was wounded in May 1915 and invalided home and a month or so later married Evelyn Frances O’Neal in Elham, Kent. He returned to France on 18 March 1916 and joined the 2nd Battalion, where he was appointed acting major while posted to battalion headquarters, until 28 August 1916. Following this he was appointed acting lieutenant-colonel and given command of the 6th Battalion Royal Irish Regiment until 31 October, when he took over command of the 17th Battalion Royal Welch Fusiliers until 20 December 1917 and was Mentioned in Despatches. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) in the 1918 New Year’s Honours. His only daughter, Margaret, was born a few months later, while he continued to be attached to the Royal Welch Fusiliers.

After the war Henry served as adjutant of the 12th Battalion, London Regiment from June 1920 until April 1923. Later he served again with the 2nd Battalion Durham Light Infantry while attached to the Shanghai Defence Force from March to July 1927. In October 1928 he was put on the Reserve List of Officers until November 1930 when he retired. He moved to Somerset shortly afterwards and during the Second World War served with the Wiveliscombe Home Guard.

Birth date: 24-May-1881

Death date: 24-Jan-1962

Armed force/civilian: Army

Residence: Culverhead, Wiveliscombe, Wellington, Somerset (1939 Register & England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1962)

Education: Speldhurst Lodge School, Speldhurst, Kent
Wellington College, Berkshire

Family: Father: Henry Taylor
Mother: Ursula Taylor (nee Mellor)
Siblings: Russell Leigh, Harold Isaac & Ursula Gertrude Taylor
Wife: Evelyn Frances Taylor (nee O’Neal)
Daughter: Margaret V O’Neal Taylor

Military service:

4th & 2nd Battalions Durham Light Infantry and Royal Welch Fusiliers
Major

Medal(s): Distinguished Service Order
Mentioned in Despatches
Queen’s South Africa Medal with 3 clasps
1914 Star and clasp
British War Medal
Victory Medal

Gender: Male

Contributed by John Edwards


Comments on this story


Comment

There are no comments on this story yet.