Name
Edward Algernon Taylor
7 May 1880
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
11/02/1918
38
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Second Lieutenant
Hertfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star, British War and Victory Medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
FINS NEW BRITISH CEMETERY, SOREL-LE-GRAND
IV. B. 6.
France
Headstone Inscription
None
UK & Other Memorials
Bishop's Stortford Town Memorial, Hertfordshire Regimental Memorial, All Saints Church, Hertford, Not on the Great Amwell memorials
Pre War
Edward Algernon Taylor was born on 7 May 1880 in Great Amwell, Ware, Herts to Henry Algernon Taylor and Georgiana (nee Cass) and baptised on 13 Jul 1880 in Ware. His birth was registered as Algernon Edward Taylor and he was baptised as Algernon Edward.
On the 1881 Census, the family of parents and Edward were living at The Grange, Great Amwell, Herts where his father was a Maltster. They employed a Cook, Housemaid and Nurse.
On the 1891 Census (and all subsequent records) he is listed as Edward A Taylor and was a pupil living at Warren Park, Danesbury, Bengeo, (a preparatory school for Haileybury School). His family of parents, Winifred (born 1882), Edith M (born 1885), Helen M (born 1887). Ernest G (born 1888) and John H (born 1889) were living at Widbury Hill House, Ware with four Servants.
By 1901 He was back living with his family of parents, Winifred and Marionat Bonningtons in Stanstead Abbots and working as a Maltster, like his father.
On the 1911 Census his parents, Edith, Helen, and Marion were living at Northbrooks, Great Parndon, Essex but he was not with them.
His father later lived at The Retreat, Hockerill, Bishop's Stortford.
Wartime Service
No Service record was found for Edward. It is probable that he was enlisted or volunteered at the outbreak of war (see note on medals below). He was gazetted from Cadet to 2nd Lieutenant on 19 Dec 1916 and is mentioned as joining the Battalion on 3 Feb 1917 in their positions near Ypres.
In early Feb 1918 the 1st Hertfordshire Regiment was positioned in the Gouzeaucourt sector, near Cambrai, France. The war diary for the 1st Hertfordshire Regiment on 11 February 1918 states that he was killed in the afternoon with Lance Corporal William Overton, by an enemy sniper whilst they were out on patrol.
(According to the Medal Rolls Index Cards, his father applied for a 1914 star for Edward and the medals were sent to Widbury, Queensland Australia, on 4 Jul 1921 possibly to John Henry Taylor).
Additional Information
His father received a War Gratuity of £5 and arrears of £85 11s 3d. Brother Ernest George served as 2nd Lieutenant with King’s Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment) and was killed in Action 2 May 1915 during 2nd Battle of Ypres (St Julian). Believe this is E G Taylor remembered on Bishops Stortford Town Memorial.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer, Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild
