Thomas Taylor

Thomas was the 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 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, 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). Their second child, 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. Thomas' brother, Bernard, served in the Sherwood Foresters and was killed in action on 30 May 1917. He enlisted in the Territorial Force in 1912, when his family was still living at 8 Wimbourne Road, but in 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.

HMS Resolution. Thomas Taylor joined the Royal Navy on 15 March 1918 as a Boy 2nd Class, and entered on a 12 year engagement from 6 August the same year, his eighteenth birthday. A Devonport rating, Thomas served in the following ships and shore establishments: HMS Powerful, 15 March 1918-4 June 1918 (Boy 2nd Class, 1 June Boy 1st Class); HMS Resolution, 5 June 1915-11 March 1920 (Ordinary Seaman 2 August 1918). Thomas drowned on 11 March 1920. His service record was annotated: ‘DD [discharged dead] 22 (amended to 11) March 1920 accidental drowning.’ The record also included the decision of the Court of Enquiry into his death: 'NL13335/20 Report of CofE [Court of Enquiry] as to death of this rating who was drowned on the 11 Mch/20 through being thrown into the water owing to a boat’s sling breaking.’ The accident would thus appear to have occurred when he was in a ship's boat being lowered from HMS Resolution. His body was not recovered for burial and he is commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial.

His brother Bernard Taylor served in the Sherwood Foresters (240462 Private) and was killed in action on 30 May 1917. (See record on this Roll of Honour) His half-brother, George Oliver Lowe, also served in the Sherwood Foresters (9081) and survived the war.