Private Thomas Taylor.
14002 3rd Coldstream Guards.
Killed in action 15th September 1916, aged 32.
Thomas was born about 1884 in Barrow in Furness, Lancs. The son of Thomas Taylor and Alice Snape. In the 1891 census the family were living at 7 Holkens St, Barrow in Furness. Alice 43, widow, dressmaker, Mary 24 waitress, Ellen 21 dressmaker, all born in Preston, Lancs. Theresa 15, George 11 and Thomas 8, all born in Barrow.
The family had moved to Burnley by the 1901 census and were living at 20 Helena St. Alice 53, Ellen 31, Theresa 25, Thomas 18 warehouseman and a boarder John Butterfield 22.
Thomas married Alice Gripton in the June quarter of 1906 in Burnley.
The family were living at 15 Cleaver St, Burnley in the 1911 census. Thomas 28 warehouseman, Alice 28 school caretaker and daughter Mary Alice 2.
From The Express and Advertiser dated 11 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 to. It is a constellation 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.
From The Express and Advertiser dated 21 October 1916: A GUARDSMAN’S BURIAL.
Mrs Taylor of 15 Cleaver Street Burnley has received through Lance Sergeant I Greenwood of the Coldstream Guards, a small slip of paper headed "Will" and the following in her late husband's handwriting. " Wife, Alice Taylor, 15 Cleaver Street Burnley Lancashire ." her husband Private T Taylor of the Coldstreams was killed in action on September 15th and in reference to this Lance Sergeant Greenwood says: "Well. I am wondering all sorts of things as to what has happened since the memorable day of 15th September. All I could think about whilst the thing was on was, "I wonder how Arthur Emmett and Tom Taylor or going on?" I feel awful sorry about old Tom being killed. The day after the attack a party of our Battalion went out and buried all the dead, and I particularly noticed that he was one of those who had been buried, and then brought in his identity disc, and it was forwarded to the base...... You might let Mrs Taylor know that Tom was buried pretty decently, and I know practically the exact spot. PS, I have been talking to a chat since I wrote this letter, and he was the man who helped to bury Tom and he produced the enclosed will, which you might like to look after and give to his wife if you like."
Lived at 15 Cleaver Street.
Thomas left his effects to his widow Alice.
Thomas is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France: Pier and Face 7 D & 8 D.
Photo courtesy of George Coppock 2024