William Barron Taylor
- Family History
- Military History
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William was born in Sutton-on-Trent and was the son of William and Agnes Mary Taylor nee Leach. William senior was born in Norwell Woodhouse, Nottinghamshire, in 1859 (O/N/D Southwell) and his wife Agnes Mary in Littleport, Cambridgeshire, in 1862 (J/A/S Ely Cambridgeshire, mother's maiden name Barron) They were married in 1887 (J/A/S Ely) and had five children, sadly one died in infancy. Their children were born in Sutton-on-Trent and their four surviving children were baptised in All Saints parish church, Sutton-on-Trent: Agnes Annie b. 19 April 1888 (A/M/J Southwell) bap. 2 September 1888, William Barron b. 1890 (J/A/S Southwell) bap 27 July 1890, Robert James Barron b. 29 September 1892 (O/N/D Southwell) bap. 6 November 1892, Ralph Henry b. 1895 (O/N/D Southwell) bap. 1 September and Constance Jessie birth registered 1902 (J/F/M Southwell) who died in 1903 (A/M/J Southwell) aged 1 year. In the 1901 census the family are living at the Board School, Low Street, Sutton on Trent. William senior is 41 yrs and school master at an elementary school, his wife Agnes 38 yrs is an assistant teacher at the same school and they are living with their children Agnes Annie, William Barron, Robert J and Ralph H. By the following census in 1911 the family are still living at the council school, Low Street, Sutton on Trent. William senior is now 51 years and the head teacher at the Council School, Sutton-on-Trent. He is living with his wife Agnes 48 yrs and two of their sons, William Barron 20 years a private student and Ralph Henry 15 yrs a plumber's apprentice. The CWGC record gives his father's address as Holme House, Sutton-on-Trent, Newark. His mother Agnes Mary died on 27 January 1916 aged 53 years. William's two brothers Robert and Ralph also served in the war. At the time William's death in 1917 one was also serving in France and the other was under training. His father William died on 27 December 1935 (O/N/D Southwell) aged 76. He was still living at Holme House, Sutton-on-Trent. His sister Agnes married Frederick W Ward in 1913 (J/A/S Southwell). In 1939 at the time the England & Wales Register was compiled Agnes (b. 19 April 1888) and Frederick (b. 10 February 1883), a maslter's manager, were living at 13 Salisbury Road, Newark, with their daughters Jessie M (b. 29 January 1916, a railway clerk, and Freda (b. 27 December 1917) a local government officer. Agnes died in 1969 (J/F/M Newark). His brother Robert James probably married Ellen Flint in 1921 (O/N/D Mansfield) and had two children, Olive M. b. 1922 (A/M/J Mansfield) and William B. b. 1923 (O/N/D Mansfield). In 1939 Robert J Barron-Taylor (sic), a railway goods guard, was living at 10 Marnham Road, East Retford, with his wife Ellen (b. 28 December 1897). The youngest sibling, Ralph Henry, has not yet been traced after 1911.
William originally joined the Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry in 1908 but when war broke out he enlisted in London into the Royal Fusiliers and was promoted lance corporal. He was wounded in the Battle of the Somme on 19 July 1916 and sent home to recuperate, but returned to France in March 1917. He was killed in action on 3rd May 1917. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial.
Inscription on headstone marking the family grave in Sutton-on-Trent Cemetery: 'In loving memory of Agnes Mary the beloved wife of William Taylor who died January 27th 1916 aged 53 years. Also William Barron late of 9th Royal Fusiliers who fell in action in France, May 3rd 1917 aged 26 years. Rest in Peace' The following is an extract from The Magnus School, Newark, diary of the Great War: 'Saturday 2 June 1917: Sutton-on-Trent School headmaster William Taylor and his wife Agnes were informed that the eldest of their three serving sons had been killed in action. William Barron Taylor, 26, an Old Magnusian renowned for regularly winning the sprints at Newark’s annual Whit Sports, joined the Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry in 1908 and worked for the Midland Railway at Derby before enlisting in the Royal Fusiliers in 1914. He was wounded in the Battle of the Somme on 19 July 1916, was sent home to recuperate, but returned to France in March 1917. Lance Corporal Taylor was killed on 3 May while serving with the Royal Fusiliers and is remembered on the Arras Memorial. Of his brothers, one was fighting in France and the other in training.' See also Newark Local History Society website (http://newarklocalhistory.org.uk/taylor-william-barron) which has an extract of the above biography and also a transcript of a letter from another man from Sutton-on-Trent, Francis Charles Cobb (24062 15th Bn Sherwood Foresters) who in a letter to his sister in July 1917 mentioned William's death: 'Yes I new [sic] that Barron Taylor was killed because I got to know were [where]'. Cobb was killed on 26 August 1917. Probate: Taylor William of Holme House Sutton-on-Trent Nottinghamshire died 27 December 1935 Probate London 11 February to Lizzie Pierrepont spinster. Effects £232 4s. 7d.
