Bernard Taylor
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Bernard was the second son of Tom (also Thomas) and Betsey Alice Taylor (formerly Lowe, née Varley). His mother Betsey Ann was born in Radford, Nottingham, in 1859. She married John Henry Lowe, a lace maker, on 21 April 1878 at Radford St Peter and they had six children who, with the exception of Charles who was born in France, were born in Nottingham: Annie b. 1878, Charles W. b. abt 1880 (registered France), George Oliver birth registered 1882 (J/F/M), Catherine birth registered 1884 (J/F/M), Mary Ellen b. 1886 and Hilda b. 31 January 1889. In 1881 Betsey and John, with their two eldest children, Annie (2) and Charles (1), were living on Denison Street, Radford. Betsey was widowed by 1891 and working as a charwoman. She and her six chldren were living on Smith Street, Radford: Annie (12) a post errand girl, Charles (11), George (9), Catherine (7), Mary (5) and Hilda (2). Also in the household was Betsey's widowed father-in-law, John Lowe (62), a lace maker. Betsey married Tom Taylor in 1893 (J/F/M Nottingham) and they had five children: Claude b. 1893, Bernard birth registered 1895 (J/F/M), Albert birth registered 1897 (J/F/M), Ivy Blanche b. 1898 and Thomas b. 6 August 1900. In 1901 Thomas (43), a slaughterman (pork), and Betsey (41) were living in Radford with Betsey's married son, Charles, a stationer, and his wife Catherine (17), a pinafore maker, and her daughters Mary (18), a pinafore maker, and Hilda (12) together with four of their five children, Claude (7), Albert (4), Ivy (3) and Thomas (7 months). Bernard, has not yet been traced on the census. Thomas and Betsey had moved to 8 Wimbourne Road, Radford, Nottingham, by 1911. Also in the household on the night of the census were Hilda Lowe no occupation, Claude a grocer's shop assistant, Bernard a carter (confecionery), Albert an errand boy, Ivy and Thomas together with a boarder, Sylvia Morley, a lace finisher. Hilda Lowe married Wilfrid Whyles in 1912 and according to a newspaper report of Bernard's death he had lived with Hilda and her husband in Hucknall before he enlisted. The family was still living at 8 Wimbourne Road when Bernard enlisted in the Territorial Force in 1912, but by November 1919 when the army returned Bernard's personal possessions to his father, they had moved to 4 Wimbourne Road. However, the later CWGC record gives his parents address as 6 Wimbourne Road. Betsey may have died in 1923 and her husband Thomas in 1925.
Private Bernard Taylor, attested at Nottingham in the Territorial Force (4 year engagement) on 27th January 1912. He was 17 yrs of age and a carter. He joined the Territorial battalion 7th battalion (Robin Hoods) Sherwood Foresters (Nottingham and Derbyshire Regiment) and completed annual camps in 1912 and 1913. He appears to have transferred to the 6th Battalion Sherwood Foresters in May 1914 and at the outbreak of the war he was embodied for service on 5th August 1914, He served in France from 28th February 1915. He was wounded on 23 April 1917 but discharged to duty on 26 May 1917. It was while serving with with “D” Company, 1/6th Battalion, that he was killed in action three days later on 30th May 1917. He is buried in Fosse No. 10 Communal Cemetery Extension, Sains-en-Gohelle, France (grave ref. I.D.49). He qualified for the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. CWGC - Fosse No. 10 Communal Cemetery Extension (extract): 'The Extension is on the South side of the Communal Cemetery. It was begun in April, 1916 and used continuously (chiefly by Field Ambulances) until October 1918.'
His brother Thomas served in the Royal Navy from 15 March 1918. He was serving in HMS Resolution and drowned on 11 March 1920 he was thrown from a ship's boat when a sling broke and drowned (presumably he was in a ship's boat that was being lowered from the ship). (See record on this Roll of Honour) His half-brother, George Oliver Lowe, also served in the Sherwood Foresters (9081) and survived the war. Article published 21st June 1917 in the Hucknall Dispatch:- “FALLEN IN BATTLE. “The hero shown here is Private Bernard Taylor, who was a native of Nottingham, and a sister of Mrs. Whyles [Hilda née Lowe], of 31, Station terrace, Hucknall, with whom he resided before joining the Army. He was well-known to many people in the district, formerly living on Portland road, Hucknall. “The deceased, who was 22 years of age, decided to throw in, his lot with the Army at the outbreak of hostilities, joining the 6th Sherwood Foresters and was trained at Nottingham, Harpenden, and Luton before going to France, where he spent two years and three months. He had a furlough at Easter, 1916. Since then he was slightly wounded, but he kept up his end till May 26, 1917, [he was killed on 30th May 1917] when he was killed by a shell. One of his brothers is a prisoner of war. “His officer has sent a letter saying that he feels his loss terribly, as he as his servant for 18 months. He recommended him for some men who were a bit shaky. He is a tremendous loss to all, as his strength of will and character made him invaluable in the trenches.” Article is courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918.
