Name
James Henry Taylor
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
05/08/1918
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Sapper
216033
Royal Engineers
153rd Field Company
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BIENVILLERS MILITARY CEMETERY
XX. E. 8.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Bushey memorials
Pre War
Born in Aylesbury on 21 February 1889 and baptised on 14 February 1890, James Henry was the son of James (Snr.) and Ellen (nee Simonds) Taylor. His parents were married in the last quarter of 1888 in the registration district of Aylesbury.
At the 1891 census, his parents were living at 58 Cambridge Road in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire. James (Snr.) and Ellen were 26 and 22 years old respectively and James was two years old. James (Snr.) was working as an Ostler. The birthplaces were given as Aylesbury for James and James (Snr.) and Weedon (which is near Aylesbury) for Ellen.
By the time of the 1901 census, the family had moved to 19 St John’s Road in Aylesbury. James (Snr.) is now working as a gas stoker. James (Jnr.) was 12 years old and by then had five siblings, named Lucy, Ada, Arthur, Florence and Albert. They were 9, 7, 6, 3 and 1 years old respectively. Apart from Ada, who was born in Kettering, they had all been born in Aylesbury.
At the 1911 census, James was living at 3 St John’s Road in Aylesbury with his widowed maternal grandmother, Elizabeth Simonds, and her son, Thomas Simonds. James was working as a general labourer.
Wartime Service
James enlisted in Watford on 9 December 1916 as as Sapper 216033 with the Royal Engineers. He gave his address as Walton Villa, Walton Road, Bushey, his age as 28 years and his trade as a painter and decorator.
James was transferred on 9 January 1917 to the Tyne Electrical Engineers based in Gosport, and then to the Royal Engineers Training Centre (Clifford’s Fort) in Newark from 5 December 1917. He joined his unit with the 153rd Field Company from 26 April 1918 and died on 5 August 1918 at 49 Field Ambulance from wounds received in action. James was entitled to the British and Victory medals.
James’ parents moved away from Bushey around the time that James enlisted and the details in his service record for next of kin showed two addresses in Rucklidge Avenue in Harlesden, London, one being Number 146 where his parents, three of his brothers and one sister were living and Number 72 where three of his sisters were living.
The Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects showed payments to his father of £5 8s. 9d. on 21 February 1919 and £7 0s. 0d. on 16 November 1919.
James’ medals were despatched to his father at 146 Rucklidge Avenue, with their receipt acknowledged by his mother. The pension card for James named his mother as his dependent, also with the address of 146 Rucklidge Avenue, and showed an award of 3s. 6d. per week with effect from 18 February 1919. There is also some correspondence from his mother, with the address as 72 Rucklidge Avenue.
Additional Information
Dianne Payne - www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk, Jonty Wild
Acknowledgments
Andrew Palmer
Jonty Wild
