Private Thomas Taylor
Service Number: 14002
3rd Bn. Coldstream Guards
Killed in Action 15th September 1916, aged 32
Husband of Alice Taylor, 15 Cleaver Street, Burnley
From The Express and Advertiser dated 11th October 1916: GUARDSMAN KILLED. AWAY JUST A YEAR
Mrs. Taylor of 15 Cleaver Street, Burnley is another wife to receive the sad intelligence that her husband has been killed in action. Her husband Private Thomas Taylor 14002, of the Coldstream Guards, enlisted in November 1914 and went on Active Service in October of last year. He went through the notable second Battle of Ypres and several other big engagements without receiving any injury. Unfortunately however, in the latest heavy fighting, he went under, the date of his death being given as September 15th. Before enlisting he was Warehouse man for a Messrs' Holland Brothers Waste Dealers, where he had been employed for about 18-years, and he was widely known and respected. He leaves two young children, the younger being just 5 weeks old when the father came home on his last leave in September of last year. If he had lived, Private Taylor would have been 33 on Saturday.
A comrade Private A Emmett, who enlisted on the same day as Private Taylor, and who is now in Warrington Hospital suffering from wounds, has written to Mrs Taylor: - "I saw him on the 14th, and he was quite merry under the circumstances we were in. I little thought that would be our last meeting. May God give you the strength to bear up in your great trouble, for I am sure he was a good husband and father, and also a son too. It is a consolation to you to know that he has given his all for his King and Country, but I know that won't make up your loss."
Mrs. Taylor has two brothers serving in the army, one being Sapper Joseph Gripton of the Royal Engineers, who has just come out of hospital after an attack of trench fever, and the other Signaller Andrew Gripton of the Royal Berkshire Regiment. Mrs Taylor is the caretaker at Heasandford Special School.
Commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France: Pier and Face 7 D & 8 D
(Photo courtesy of G. Coppock - 2024)