John Taylor

First name possibly 'Jonathan' although no record of the birth of a Jonathan Taylor has been found in the relevant period. The CWGC and RND records give the names of John's parents as James and Lydia Taylor of Radford; RM and RND records name his brother George as his next of kin. His father was born in Draycott, Derbyshire, in about 1847. He may have been a regular soldier at one time as there is a record of a Private James Taylor, Grenadier Guards, aged 24, born Draycott, in Wellington Barracks, London, at the time of the 1871 Census. His mother Lydia Tatterson was born in Manchester on 17 December 1854 (O/N/D Manchester), the daughter of Joseph and Esther Tatterson. She was baptised in Manchester cathedral (St Mary & St Denys & St George) on 28 January 1855. In 1871 she and her parents were living in the parish of Nottingham St Mary; her father was a stonemason. Lydia married Robert Henry Bradley in 1874 (O/N/D Nottingham); Robert, a beerseller, died on 8 January 1876 in Nottingham. Lydia probably then married James Horace Taylor the same year (1876 J/A/S Nottingham). According to the 1911 Census which was completed by Lydia, who was still married but head of household, she had been married for 37 years and had had six children of whom only five were still living. Six children were named on the census between 1881 and 1911: George, probably George Horace (but also George P, 1901 Census), b. 1877 (George Horace, J/A/S Nottingham), Esther Elizabeth b. 1879 (O/N/D Radford), Jonathan b. 1881 (O/N/D Nottingham) who was probably John b. 7 November 1881 (RM records), Josiah birth registered 1884 (J/F/M Nottingham), Lily (possibly Lilian) b. abt 1886 and John b. abt 1888. All the children were born in Radford, Nottingham. In 1881 James Taylor (34), a gas stoker, and Lydia (26) were living at 5 Harrison Row, Radford, with their two children George (3) and Esther (1). James and Lydia had four more children between 1881 and 1888 (Jonathan, Josiah, Lily and John) but from 1891 Lydia was the only parent in the family home although she continued to describe herself as married. In 1891 Lydia (36) was living at 97 Miall Street, Lenton, with her six children; George (13) who was working in a printing office, Esther (11), Jonathan (9), Josiah (7), Lily (5) and John (2). By 1901 Lydia (46) had moved to 6 Beresford Street, Radford, where she was working from home as a Lievers lace drawer. In the home with her on the night of the census were George (23) a general labourer, Esther (21) a lace pattern hand, Josiah (17) a coal hewer, Lily (14) a cigarette maker and John (12). Jonathan, who would have been about 19 years old was not in the household but there is a record of a John Taylor (19) who was a boarder in the household of William and Sarah Harper at 20 Beacon Street, St Ann's. Esther married Alfred Beckingham Farmer in 1901 (A/M/J Nottingham) and Josiah probably married in 1904 (J/A/S Nottingham Mary Martin or Cissie Hart). By 1911 Lydia was living at 15 Anfield Terrace, Denman Street, Radford, with her unmarried son George (33) who was a goods porter for the Great Northern Railway. According to one of the military records this was still George's address when his brother was killed in 1915 although his address was given on another military record as c/o Mrs Farmer (probably his married sister Esther) at 1 Bulwer Road, Radford, Nottingham. Lydia probably died in 1918 (June Nottingham).

John Taylor served with Chatham Battalion, Royal Marine Light Infantry, Royal Naval Division. He enlisted into the Sherwood Foresters on 7 September 1914, transferring to the Royal Marine Light Infantry on 16 September on a short-service engagement. He served with the Mediteranean Expeditionary Force from 6 February 1915 until about 28 April 1915 when he was wounded shortly after the landing at Anzac, by a bullet wound in his hip. He rejoined the battalion on 20 June 1915. He was taken ill with pyrexia and enteric fever and was evacuated to Alexandria, Egypt, on 25 August 1915. He died of typhoid in 19th General Hospital, Alexandria, on 2 September 1915 and was buried in Chatby War Memorial Cemetery.

Note: DOB from RM & RND records. Taylor was one of 'Kitchener's Marines' who were transferred from the Sherwood Foresters to the RMLI. Des Turner notes '600 RMLI transfers came from two regiments - 200 from the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (KOYLI) and 400 from the Sherwood Foresters. They were predominantly ex-miners and labourers, fit men wanted for their ability to dig trenches and tunnels. The 200 KOYLI recruits were transferred to Plymouth Division RMLI and were given service numbers PLY/1(S) to PLY200(S). This was also the case for the Sherwood Foresters 200 who were dispatched to Portsmouth where already 30 men were recruited and so they became PO/31(S) to PO/230(S). 200 remaining Foresters went to Chatham and were numbered CH/1 to CH/200(S). 'Nottingham Evening Post, 19 November 1915, photograph with caption: 'Pte J Taylor RMLI Chatham Battalion, of Radford, wounded in May, died of typhoid September 2nd.' The record of RND Casualties names his brother, George, of 15 Anfield Terrace, Denman Street, Nottingham, as his next of kin. However, the RN&RM War Graves Roll which also names George as his next of kin gives his address as c/o Mrs Farmer, 41 Bulwer Road, Radford, Nottingham. Probate: Bradley Robert Henry 1 February [1876] effects under £300. The Will of Robert Henry Bradley late of the Town of Nottingham Beerseller who died 8 January 1876 at Nottingham was proved at Nottingham by Lydia Bradley Widow the Relict and Mary Jane Proctor (Wife of George Proctor, Licensed Victualler) the Sister both of Nottingham the Eecutrixes.