Frederick Taylor

FREDERICK GEORGE TAYLOR 1884 – 1916

George Taylor took in Robert, James and Ellen Ginger when he married their widowed mother Elizabeth in the village church during July 1881. Elizabeth was pregnant with Ellen when her first husband John died. George a general labourer who later in life worked in the brickwork's was to have a large family with Elizabeth. Along with three children from her first marriage were added another six with their union.

Robert Ginger 1873 Elizabeth 1882 Annie 1888

James Ginger 1875 Frederick 1884 Harry 1892

Ellen Ginger 1878 Walter 1886 Caroline 1893

The quality of life for such a large family living on labours wages could only be seen as bleak in the extreme. Elizabeth helped with straw plaiting, as would the children. On the 1891 census the family, all nine of them, are living in the most overcrowded conditions of a four roomed house in a row of workmen’s dwellings on the Old St Albans Road. The registrar surprised at this number noted that 9 persons lived in this one house, the most over crowded home in Bennett’s End. These houses were demolished in the early 1960s with the ground landscaped, by the turn of the new century more homes have been re-built on the same spot again.

By 1901 the Taylor's household was now down to seven as Elizabeth’s first children had by now left home and Annie aged 10 died in 1897, the family home still lived in a 4 roomed house in Tile Kiln Lane. More misery came the following year when daughter Elizabeth aged 20 died. Life eventually took its toll on Elizabeth in 1905, the mother of many children and having endured such a hard life died. George would continue until 1917 and aged 66 went to join Elizabeth.

Frederick was born on 16^th January 1884 was baptised in the village church on 12^th July 1885, after attending the village school Fred became an agricultural labourer and married 18 year old Kate Purton from Northchurch during the spring of 1906, at Northchurch parish church.

In August of that year their first child Gladys was born in Bennetts End, followed by Phyllis May in Westwick Row during August, 1909, Frederick Edward at Bennetts End during April of 1913 and last was Florence Grace in October, 1914, again at Bennetts End. Unfortunately Florence would die in a few years.

Fred’s war began when he enlisted at Watford in June 1915 and was posted to the Bedfordshire Regiment. After completion of his training he was posted overseas to France sometime during 1916 to the 8^th battalion Bedfordshire regiment of 16^th Brigade, 6^th division.

As the correct date of entry to France is not available I have only recorded the movements of the 8^th battalion from the end of August 1916

Field State of 8th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment at August 31st 1916

Killed 8, Wounded 27, Sick to Hospital 72, Sick from Hospital 17, Evacuated from F.A. 46. A Company Strength, 16 officers and 202 soldiers. B Company Strength, 6 officers and 214 soldiers. C Company Strength, 8 officers and 230 soldiers. D Company Strength, 8 officers 212 soldiers

Total 38 officers 858 soldiers.

WAR DIARY FOR SEPTEMBER 1916

1 Sep 1916 - Naours In billets. Companies training in the attack and practising on the Rifle Range

2 Sep 1916 In billets. Companies training in the attack and practising on the Rifle Range Battalion practice at communication with aeroplanes in the field and marking position held by flares and flashing of periscopes.

3 Sep 1916 In billets. Open-air church service. Battalion bathed and issued with clean underclothing.

4 Sep 1916 In billets. Route marching by Companies.

5 Sep 1916 In billets. Brigade exercise in the attack and formation of a defensive flank.

6 Sep 1916 - Villers-Bocage In billets. Marched to VILLERS BOCASE in the forenoon. Battalion inspected by C.O. in trench fighting order.

7 Sep 1916 - Corbie In billets. Marched to CORBIE via RAINNEVILLE - CORVONETTE - QUERREUX.

8 Sep 1916 - Bois des Tailles In billets. Marched to BOIS DES TAILLES via MORLANDCOURT. Battalion in Camp on edge of wood.

9 Sep 1916 In billets. Battalion training in the attack on trenches, moving closely under the artillery barrage.

10 Sep 1916 In billets. Battalion training in the attack in open warfare - moving over the open in extended lines, thickening the front line under cover of Stokes Mortar barrage, and then pressing home the assault.

11 Sep 1916 - Germans Wood, Maricourt In billets. Marched to MARICOURT. Completed issue of fighting stores and bivouacked for night just east of GERMANS WOOD.

12 Sep 1916 - Leuze Wood trenches Battalion rested during day and moved into trenches N.E. of LEUZE WOOD [Ref Longueval C21] in relief of 8th Middlesex Regiment.

13 Sep 1916 - trenches near Guillemont Capt. Steyer with B Coy co-operated with 18th Brigade in an attack at 6 a.m. on QUADRILATERAL [ Ref Longueval T.15.c] . Attack unsuccessful although B Coy bombed their way about 100 yds along German trench causing considerable casualties to the enemy. The attack was repeated at 6 p.m. with two platoons of C Coy. assisting the 18th. Brigade in the frontal attack. Enemy driven in from his advanced posts but QUADRILATERAL not taken.

14 Sep 1916, Battalion in trenches making all preparations for part in 4th Army offensive on 15th September.

15 Sep 1916, Battalion ordered to take QUADRILATERAL ,assisted by the Heavy Section of the M.G. Corps with "TANKS", Battalion was in position for attack about 4.30 a.m. ZERO hour 6.20 a.m. Three waves were supplied by C, D and A Companies under Capt Hatch, 2/Lt Hodges and Lt Draisey, respectively to attack the QUADRILATERAL, which was on our left flank, whilst B Coy co-operated by bombing down trench leading to it. At 6.0 a.m. heavy artillery opened slow barrage on Line MORVAL - LES BOEUFS. At ZERO hour (6.20 a.m.) intense artillery barrage opened and unluckily was cut short where our 3 companies were drawn up for the attack in shell holes. This mistake caused many casualties. Our attacking companies pushed forward and though supported by 1/The Buffs and later re-enforced by the 2/York & Lancaster Regiment failed to take the position. "TANKS" did not arrive to assist and the position was not heavily shelled previous to the attack. Brigade ordered original trenches to be held and await orders. As battalion had suffered very severely in casualties, 6 Officers killed and 7 wounded we were relieved by 2nd battalion York & Lancs regiment at 6.0.p.m. and put in brigade reserve in trenches S.E. of GUILLEMONT.

16 Sep 1916 - Maltz Horn farm, Guillemont Battalion furnished carrying parties for rations & material to front line after moving back to MALTZ HORN FARM.

17 Sep 1916 Battalion furnished carrying parties from Brigade Head Quarters to front line.

18 Sep 1916 Battalion moved forward to trenches S.E. of GUILLEMONT at 4.0 a.m. Brigade attacked QUADRILATERAL after it had been heavily shelled. 1/K.S.L.I. attacked supported by 2/Y.&.L. and 1/The Buffs. Our Battalion being in reserve. Position taken and a line consolidated about 500 yards east of it. Battalion relieved at night by 2/Devon and moved back to the BRIQUETERIE north of MARICOURT where they bivouacked.

The Bedfordshire battalion suffered casualties of around 72 killed, 217 wounded and 100 missing, this was amended to 123 men killed with over 400 casualties in total for the three days engagements.

The Quadrilateral was a German strong point, rectangular in shape and sheltered originally by some trees. Protected by, a network of trenches also ran through a deep ravine, this had been strongly fortified with deep dugouts.

On the 15^th September this German position held up attack of the Guards Division as well as 6^th division.

Frederick has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the missing, pier and face 2C. He was included on the order of service for the parish church at Easter 1919 and was named on the village school, Leverstock Green and Hemel Hempstead war memorials

Fred was aged 34 years old.

Thiepval Memorial

The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. The memorial, designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, was built between 1928 and 1932 and unveiled by the Prince of Wales, in the presence of the President of France, on 1 August 1932

Fred's service number was 22080, the next number issued was to a Walter Taylor who was wounded and discharged from the army aged 34 years. This could have been Fred's younger brother.

Fred’s father George was in court during October 1916 for the theft of a gun valued at £5.00. This he took from a barn at Cox’s pond farm, the property of Harry How. Found guilty and sentenced to four months prison George remarked “I shall be in the dry and warm for the winter” He died in the workhouse the following February and was buried in Leverstock Green.