Born: 1892, Eccleshill
Died: 28 March, 1916
Buried: Elzenwalle Brasserie Cemetery, Belgium
Address: 17 Mount Street, Eccleshill
Parents: Richard and Sarah
Spouse:
Siblings: Thomas, Charles, Zellah, Clifford
Occupation: Weaver (1911)
Organisations/clubs: Football and cricket
Military
Rank:Pte
Medals/awards:
Rolls of Honour: Eccleshill, park and St Luke’s
Children:
Regiment: 12 West Yorkshire
Gilbert Taylor
Mr and Mrs Richard Taylor of 17
Mount Street, Eccleshill were
informed that their son Gilbert was
missing from his regiment.
Pte F Taylor, 12th West Yorks said:
“I am writing this at the first
opportunity to let you know about
Gilbert. I am very sorry to say he is
reported missing and there seems
to be nothing else for it but that he
has been killed.
‘This is how it happened. Twenty-
four men out of our battalion,
which included myself and your
son, were picked to carry bombs in
a charge for the Northumberland
Fusiliers. We got over into the
German lines in safety and came
back again for more bombs and
this was repeated.
‘On coming back the third time we
got separated by a lot of German
prisoners and I never saw Gilbert
again. I have made
inquiries at the Field
Ambulance stations but
they know nothing of
him. The Germans
made no prisoners of
our lot so I can see
nothing else for it but
that he has been killed.
‘He was the least in
size amongst us but he
had a big heart and
never showed any
signs of fear. My comrades and
myself send you our deepest
sympathy.’
Still clinging to the belief that their
son might have got back to some
other part of the line, Mr and Mrs
Taylor wrote back asking for more
information.
In reply, Pte Taylor wrote: ‘I think I
have told you all that is possible
about Gilbert. I have made
inquiries of the men now in
the trenches but they have
seen nothing of him.
‘Mr and Mrs Taylor your
son has been missing
since March 28th. My own
opinion which is shared by
my comrades is that he is
killed.
‘Quite a lot of men out
here are killed and buried
by the shells bursting near
them. I shall keep on making
inquiries and if his body is
recovered you can rest assured
that it will get a decent burial.’
Pte Taylor enlisted last Whit
Monday in the 3rd West Yorkshire
Regt but was later transferred to
the 12th battalion. He left for
France on October 6th and within
a week was engaged in trench
warfare. He was missing after the
successful attack at St Eloi.
Before joining the army he was an
enthusiastic footballer and in
playing in the final at Park Avenue
with Sunfield Rovers for the
Bradford Hospital Cup which
occurred two years ago, his leg
was broken. Sunfield proved
winners and Taylor obtained a gold
medal.
The season following he joined
Bolton United Club and as they
were the winners for the Amateur
League and the Amateur Cup and
also the Bradford Alliance Cup,
Taylor obtained three gold medals
that season.
He also won a medal as a playing
member of the Eccleshill Clarence
cricket team.
He was 24 years of age.
Shipley Times & Express 12-5-1916