No. 12758, Private, John Robert TAYLOR
Aged 21
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John Robert TAYLOR was born in Isleham on 26th January 1894 (Newmarket Q1-1894 3B:535) Baptised as COLE on 3rd November 1895 in Chippenham. The son of John and Ellen COLE (née TAYLOR) 1901 census... Aged 7,he was at New Street, Chippenham with his father, John COLE [34] a stockman, born Chippenham, his mother Ellen [27] born Isleham; his half brother Herbert [5] and half sisters Elsie M [3] and Sophia [1]. All the children, except John were born in Chippenham. 1911 census... Aged 17 he was a farm labourer, having reverted to his birth surname of TAYLOR,living in New Street, Chippenham with his stepfather Alfred ELLINGTON [44] farm labourer, born Isleham, his mother and half brother Herbert,and half sister Sophie and new siblings Arthur COLE [8], Mabel Cole [6] and Nellie COLE [3], all three born in Chippenham. His mother had been married to John Cole from Q3-1895, John appears to have died in 1909 and she then married Alfred ELLINGTON in 1910. The CWGC and pension card have as additional information that his mother was Ellen ELLINGTON (formerly TAYLOR) of 6 New Row, Chippenham, Ely. |
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He enlisted in Newmarket. The 2nd Battalion, Suffolk Regiment were in the Veerstraat area for the early part of April 1915, engaged in trench routine and by the 11th were back in billets at Westoutre. From that is has to be assumed that John was unfortunately one of the few injured each day by sniper fire or shelling. His Army records have not been found so we cannot tell where or when exactly he was wounded. La Clytte was used as Brigade HQ, but many of the burials in the cemetery were consolidated from small isolated burial grounds after the war. The Newmarket Journal of 24th April 1915 stated that:- CHIPPENHAM MAN'S DEATH AT THE FRONT "On Friday morning the sad intelligence was received that Private John Taylor had been killed at the Front. The letter was received by the Vicar (Rev.S.F.Cunningham) who at once broke the news to the parents and family, for whom great sympathy is felt. Private Taylor was one of the first from the village to join the Suffolks on the call for men being made in September and after undergoing training volunteered for the Front early this year in company with several other Chippenham young men. He was only 21 years of age, and was very popular with his comrades. On Sunday evening the authorised form of memorial service was use din the church as a mark of respect for the deceased and a very feeling address was given by the Vicar to a very large congregation. Suitable hymns were sung, and at the close the Dead March in Saul was played on the organ in a very impressive manner by Mr.E.Owen the organist, the whole congregation standing." |
© Rodney Gibson
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