No.34766, Lance Corporal, Arthur TAYLOR
Aged 33
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Arthur Taylor was born in Cavendish (Sudbury Q1-1885 4A:678), son of Frederick and Eva TAYLOR (née BASHAM).
1891 census... Aged 6, he was at Pledger's Farm, The Street, Stansfield with his father Frederick TAYLOR, [31] farm labourer born Stansfield; his mother Eva [31] born Poslingford; brothers George Henry [7] born Stansfield and Walter [2] born Cavendish; sisters Sarah [4] born Cavendish and Jane Maria [1 month] born Stansfield. 1901 census... Aged 16, farm labourer, he was at Lay's Farm, New Street, Glemsford with his parents (father now horsekeeper); brothers George (farm labourer) and Walter (shepherd); sisters Jane and Eliza ([7] born Stansfield. 1911 census... Aged 26, a labourer, he was at Goymer's Farm, Denston with his parents and brother George (yardman) The pension card has his father at Park Farm Cottages, Boxsted. His brother Walter died on 17th October 1916 in France see here |
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He enlisted in Wickhambrook .
A history of the Essex regiment discloses:- "The 11th Essex took part in the fighting on October 12th, when the objective was an enemy trench along the ridge. At 4.45 p.m. the barrage lifted after a quarter of an hour's duration and "B" and "D" companies went forward against a post held by 8th Regiment, 5th Division (German), which included men who were serving at the outbreak of the war. "D" Company (left) and a platoon of "B" Company got to the enemy's outposts lying in front of the wire. The latter was, however undamaged, and the hostile machine guns, which were estimated to number over a score, opened up with intensity. There was only one gap in the wire, through which the left platoon of "B" Company attempted to rush, but suffered heavily, as they were covered by a machine gun. On the right flank the right platoon of "B" Company also suffered severely fire and, later, with the remnants of the left platoons, was compelled to withdraw to the original line. "D" Company had maintained themselves in the position they had secured, but they were later ordered to withdraw to high ground in the rear and dig in, having advanced on the left to a depth from 100 to 400 yards. 2nd Lieut. D. W. Wiley and 13 other ranks were killed and one officer and 47 other ranks wounded, in addition to half a dozen missing." CWGC records give 17 killed.
photo: Commonwealth War Graves Commission and named on Boxted war memorial click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
