Taylor Bernard

BERNARD TAYLOR (1894 to 1968)

Gawler Notes

(These notes are written by Peter's sister Susan in 2013 after research in and around Gawler about our Grandfather Bernard.)

Bernard, seen above just before leaving England, arrived on the Indarra (shown below leaving Tilbury docks) at Port Adelaide on 1 Jan 1913 with his father Henry and sister Ethel after departing London 22 Nov 1912.

His mother Martha and sisters May and Nora arrived on the Osterley in 1916

He first appears in the SA Electoral Roll in 1914 living at Gawler. He was most likely employed by Taylor Brothers Butter Factory as a clerk by that time.

Apparently Doris was a telephonist in Gawler North about 1916 and 1917 and so he probably met Doris there.

He married Doris Kathleen Baker at Kent Terrace Methodist Church on 7 April 1919.

Chronicle 17 May 1919

TAYLOR— BAKER.— On the 7th April, at Kent Town Methodist Church, by Rev, Dr. Burgess, uncle of the bride, Bernard Taylor, younger son of Mr. and Mrs. H. Taylor, of Iron Knob, and formerly of Long Sutton, Lincolnshire. England, to Doris Kathleen, younger daughter of Mr. and Mrs. T. B. Baker, Kent-terrace; Norwood. Present Address— Water-street, Gawler South. Lincolnshire papers please copy.

In 1919 he is listed with Doris Kathleen at Water St Gawler West, clerk. Water St was renamed Eighth St in the 1930s.

Photo of Doris and Bernard at this house c1919.

Below is a photo of the house, now 16 Eighth Street, taken by Susan in Feb 2013

On 17 Feb 1920 they purchased a house at Express St Gawler on the SW corner of 16th St. (LTO document). The street was renamed 14th St in the 1930s and the address is now 16 14th St.

The photo was taken by Susan on 02 Mar 2013.

Susan visited the house on 2 March 2013 and the house still stands in good condition with some additions to it. She talked with the next door neighbour who said his house which looked similar was built in 1910.

Their son James Bernard Taylor (our father Jim) was born in this house on 3 Feb 1921.

Sadly Doris died on 7 Sep 1921 at her mother’s house at 96 Kent Tce Norwood (now Fullarton Road, and the house demolished) from Tuberculosis.

Register 8 Sep 1921

TAYLOR (nee Baker).— On the 7th September, at her mother's residence, 96 Kent terrace, Norwood, Doris Kathleen, beloved wife of Bernard Taylor, of Express street, Gawler West, and youngest daughter of Mrs. and late T. B. Baker, aged 29 years. Rest after weariness.

Bernard continued to live in this house until he married Vera Grace Rowe on 21 Feb 1925 at Methodist Church, Gawler. They purchased a home at 3 Calton Rd Gawler (see below) on 21 Jan 1925 and they lived there until 27 Aug 1945 when it was sold. (LTO documents)

This is a photo taken by Susan in 2013.

The street numbering changed possibly when the James Martin Factory closed down and the land was redeveloped. This factory was on the corner of Murray St and extended to Turner St. the house still stands but is shielded by many trees and hard to see. The current address is 37 Calton Rd (corner of Turner St)

Vera’s parents were Harry Francis and Anita Hitchens Rowe. They lived at what is now 26 Eighth St (previously named Water St). After Harry died 28 Mar 1935 Bernard, Vera and Jim moved in to their house presumably to look after Vera’s mother. They are listed at that address in the 1936, 1937 and 1938 ER. Jim had 2 letters to that address from the Commonwealth Bank dated 25 Jan and 11 Mar 1937. His maternal grandmother Ellen Baker wrote a letter to him at Bernard’s work at Taylor Brother Butter Factory Water St on 9 Jan 1937

The Rowe house was a couple of houses from the Taylor Bros factory, which was what is now 34 Eighth St but is now demolished. It was also about 5 houses from where Bernard and Doris lived.

It is likely that Bernard met Vera either because they attended the same Methodist Church at Gawler or lived only a few houses apart.

Above is the Rowes' house at 26 Eighth St in 2013.

The photo below is of the Taylor Bros Butter factory Water St (now Eighth St)

And the one below is of the staff, with Bernard on the right. He was not related to the Taylors who owned the Company. On the left is Dave Cundy, whose son Maurice was Dad's closest friend, fellow Army volunteer and best man. Maurice's brother Graham was well known to Peter and Susan as he became manager of the Commonwealth Bank at Edwardstown in the 1950s.

Para Mews 34-38 Eighth St has replaced Taylor Bros Butter factory (photo 2013 below)

The next Electoral Roll after 1938 is 1941. Bernard and Vera are listed back at 3 Calton Road. Anita Rowe is not listed at Gawler and presumably had moved to Mt Gambier by then to be cared for by her daughters Sylvia and Jean. Anita died in Mt Gambier 2 Jun 1952 aged 86.

Bernard and Vera don’t appear in 1946 Electoral Roll for Gawler.