No. 18222, Private, James Alfred TAYLOR
Aged 33
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James Alfred Taylor was born in Newington, Kent (Milton Q4-1883 2A:864). He was the son of James and Adelaide Mary Ann TAYLOR (née DRURY).
1891 census...Aged 7, he was at Brickwalk Cottages, NorthStreet, Biddenden, Kent with his widowed mother Adelaide TAYLOR [31] born Biddenden; his sisters Julia [13] born Biddenden and Adelaide [[8] born Dunkirk; brothers Harry [5], Albert [3] and Wallace [1], all three born in Biddenden.Also grandmother Frances TAYLOR [66] born Benenden. His mother re married in 1896 to Edgar AUSTEN 1901 census...Aged 17, a farm labourer, he was at Causton Wood, Biddenden with his stepfather Edgar AUSTEN [38] farm labourer born Biddenden; his mother; brothers Albert, Wallace and Harry; half brother Frank AUSTEN [3] and half sister Ivy [2] both Biddenden born. He married Louisa Harriett JANAWAY [3-1-1876] (Barnet Q1-1908 3A:454) 1911 census...Aged 27, gamekeeper (recorded as born Sittingbourne) living at The Keeper's Cottage, Westerham, Kent with their two children Alfred James Charles [23-4-1909] and Harold Victor [10-11-1910] both born in Westerham. Two more sons, William Frederick [2-5-1913] and Louie Evelyn Nora [12-1-1917] were born in Tuddenham. |
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Enlisted in Bury St.Edmunds On the 10th the Battalion was in the trenches at Monchy, having suffered some heavy shelling. They were relieved by the 7th King's Shropshire Light Infantry and returned to BROWN line under 76th Infantry Brigade. CWGC have recorded 15 killed, of which 6 are buried in Feuchy and 9 are named on the Arras memorial. The Bury Post of June 8th 1917 reported :- "Information has been received that Prvt J.A. Taylor of the Suffolk Regiment was killed in action in France on May 10th. He was formerly employed on the Cavenham Estate as an under keeper and enlisted on the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914. Prvt Taylor had been wounded, and was also once taken prisoner by the German, and after spending many hours in one of their trenches, was still in it when it was captured by the British Forces, and he was thus enabled to join his comrades. Much sympathy is felt for his wife and four young children in their sad bereavement." |
commemorated on his wife's grave in Tuddenham
photo: Commonwealth War Graves Commission
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