TAYLOR, Walter


No.26621, Private, Walter TAYLOR
Aged 27


2nd Battalion, Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment
formerly 18307, Dorsetshire Regiment
Killed in Action on Tuesday, 16th October 1916


Walter Taylor was born in Cavendish (Sudbury Q3-1888 4A:648), baptised in Stansfield on 21st April 1889, son of Frederick and Eva TAYLOR (née BASHAM). "Soldiers Died" has him born and resident in Denston, Suffolk



1891 census... Aged 2, 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 Arthur [6] born Cavendish; sisters Sarah [4] born Cavendish and Jane Maria [1 month] born Stansfield.

1901 census... Aged 13, shepherd, he was at Lay's Farm, New Street, Glemsford with his parents (father now horsekeeper); brothers George (farm labourer) and Arthur (farm labourer); sisters Jane and Eliza ([7] born Stansfield.

1911 census...Not yet found in this census, he was not in Denston. Brother Arthur was at Goymer's Farm, Denston with his parents and brother George (yardman)

The pension card has his father at Park Farm Cottages, Boxted.

His brother Arthur died on 12th October 1918 in France see here




He enlisted in Coventry, less than a year before he was killed.
The war diary has that they were back in Reserve trench, FLERS TREMNCH, west of TURK LANE. TURK LANE was a very long communications trench (running very roughly parallel to the D197/D10) about half way between Gueudecourt and Le Sars.
17-10-1916..Battalion remained in reserve trenches and was shelled intermittently throughout the day.2 officer sent to Field ambulance and about 60 casualties sustained in these trenches.Ration party shelled by enemy, some casualties. Battalion moved back to front line, C and C Coys in front line. A Coy in support and B Coy in reserve. Battalion settled in at 12:10 am. Weather conditions awful. Everybody soaked. 42 OR joined Battn from transport lines.
CWGC records give 14 killed. only three have known graves.



Walter Taylor is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, pier and face 13A
and on Boxted war memorial

click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details


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