Name
Ernest Taylor
1895
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
02/12/1917
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
201207
Essex Regiment
1/4th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
CAIRO WAR MEMORIAL CEMETERY
O. 48.
Egypt
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, St Mary’s Church Roll of Honour (Book), Hitchin
Pre War
Ernest was born in 1895 in Hitchin and christened in St Mary’s Church, Hitchin on 2 June 1895. His parents were Charles and Elizabeth Taylor (née Hoffman) who had married on 28 August 1880 in St Mary’s Church, Hitchin.
In 1891, before Ernest’s birth, the family were living at 11 Sunnyside, Hitchin. Present were both parents: Charles (30) and Elizabeth Taylor (34), with Charles working as a sawyer. Their children were listed as: Rose (9), Charles (8), George (7), James (5) and Harry (2). This must have been before 30 July, because on that date Charles was convicted to 4 months in St Albans jail. The handwriting is difficult to read but seems to be “Larceny xxx – possibly abbreviated acquitted?: conv (convicted) of felony”. He was described in the ‘Habitual Criminals Register’ as born in 1861 5’ 6 ¼” tall with light brown hair, blue eyes, a proportionate build, with an oval face and having a slight limp in his left leg. Apparently he was sometimes known as John and had 19 previous convictions.
In 1901 the family were living in Sunnyside, Hitchin, but now at number 14. Present were both parents, with George now listed as a sawyer’s labourer. Of the children listed above Rose and Charles were absent. George was 16 and working as a rose grower’s labourer, James was 15 and working as a horseman on a farm, they had been joined by William (11), Ernest (6), Noah (4) and Horace (3).
in 1911 the family were still at number 14. Present were both parents, George again listed as a sawyer. The census recorded they had been married for 35 years with 8 children, all living. However with their daughter Rose, the various censuses suggest 9. The children still present were William, working as a labourer in a motor works, Ernest - 16 and a farm labourer, Noah (14) and Horace (12) – both at school.
Officially recorded as born, living and enlisting in Hitchin.
Wartime Service
Ernest, Noah and James all have entries in the National Roll of the Great War – these were normally placed by family members using what they knew and are not always 100% correct. For Ernest and Noah their entries suggest that both enlisted in May 1915 and went overseas in May 1916. In Ernest’s case it records that he was first in the Bedfordshire Regiment. Other records give him as 20723, Bedfordshire Regt. Noah’s entry does not say this, but other records show him as 10906, Bedfordshire Regt. Then they both joined the Essex Regt. as 3618 and 3619 (respectively)– consecutive numbers meaning that they joined up together and possibly suggests that they were in a territorial battalion of the Bedfords, first and then volunteered together.
Later, in early 1917, soldiers who had enlisted in, or were serving in, a Territorial Force regiment were issued with a new, six-digit service number. This was largely related to the huge increase in the numbers of men serving in the infantry regiments and the need to avoid confusion. For these brothers they were issued with 201207 and 201208 respectively.
Ernest’s entry suggests he was involved in the advance through Palestine, Jaffa and Haifa and was wounded in the vicinity of Gaza in December 1917. He was probably moved to a hospital in Egypt where he died and was buried in Row O, Grave 48 in the Cairo War Memorial Cemetery in Egypt.
Additional Information
He was reported that all eight brothers served in the armed forces, three of whom, Ernest. James and Noah were to lose their lives.
After his death £5 pay owing was authorised to go to a Lilly Wingrave – probably his sweetheart and £7 4s 11d to his mother, Elizabeth on 10 June 1918. Later, a war gratuity of £11 10s was authorised to be paid to his mother on 8 December 1919.
Brothers Ernest and Noah have joint pension cards which record Elizabeth Taylor as their mother and next of kin, living at 14 Sunnyside, Hitchin - although this was later amended to 147 Stevenage Road, Hitchin (possibly in 1936). The cards do not reveal what pension was paid.
Acknowledgments
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Jonty Wild
