Albert Taylor

Albert was born about 1881 the son of Herbert and Maria Taylor. Albert had at least seven siblings for eight children were recorded in the four census between 1881 and 1911; George, Alice, Maria, Anne, Herbert, Albert, Frank and Edgar Gladstone. In 1881, when Albert was 8 months old, the family was living at 8 Wood Street, Mansfield. By 1891 the family had moved to Nottingham and living at 9 Clayton Terrace, Meadows; all eight children were at home the night of the census: George (19), Alice (16), Maria (16), Anne (13), Herbert (12), Albert (10), Frank (6) and Edgar (4). Ten years later in 1901 Herbert and Maria were living at 61 Dane Street, St Ann's; five children were still at home, their married daughter Maria Lawlor, and their four youngest sons, Herbert, Albert, Frank and Edgar. Albert's mother, Maria, died on 16 July 1910 aged 61; the probate record gives her address as [45] Seymour Street, Nottingham, and this was the address that her husband, Herbert was living at in 1911 along with his youngest son Edgar and a servant, Ann Wing (60). However, Herbert later lived at 6 Buller's Road, St Ann's Well Road, Nottingham (CWGC). Meanwhile, Albert had married Edith Amy Selby in 1908 (registered Nottingham Jan/Feb/Mar) and their son, Albert, had been born the following year. In 1911 they were living at 12 Ashover Terrace, Manning Street. Also living with them and registered as boarders, were two of Edith's younger siblings, Herbert Owen Selby (19) and Ivy Annie Selby (13). The Register of Soldiers' Effects records that Edith was entitled to payments for herself and her children; there is a record of the birth of a Walter E Taylor (mother's maiden name Selby) registered in Nottingham in 1913 (Jan/Feb/Mar). The notice in the local paper of Albert's death gave his address as Manning Street {Nottingham]. Edith married John Carter in 1916 (registered Oct/Nov/Dec) and they lived at 14 Reform Terrace, Westminster Street, St Ann's, Nottingham, the address that Edith gave when she claimed Albert's 1914 Star in March 1920.

In 1901 he was a a carter and following the same occupation in 1911 when he was employed by a provision merchant.

He enlisted in Nottingham

The Register of Soldiers' Effects records that Albert enlisted on 8 February 1904. His service record has not survived and so it is not known if he served in the regular army or in the Territorials. He served in Western France from 12 September 1914 and was killed in action the following month. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Le Touret Memorial. He qualified for the 1914 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.

Edith Amy Selby (later Taylor) was the daughter of George and Susan Selby who in 1901 were living at 7 Commercial Street, Lenton, with their four children, Edith (17), Violet (13), Herbert (9) and Annie (3). Nottingham Evening Post, 4 December 1914 (abridged): 'Taylor. Killed in action October 27th, Albert Taylor, Northumberland Fusiliers, husband of Edith Taylor, age 33. Nottingham Evening Post, 12 December 1914 (abridged): 'Private A Taylor, Northumberland Fusiliers, Glenway(?) Terrace, Manning Street. Killed in action October 27th.' Probate: Taylor Maria of Seymour-street Nottingham (wife of Herbert Taylor) died 16 July 1910 Probate Nottingham 2 November to Henry Bellamy smallware dealer and Walter Hough iron works clerk. Effects £150 12s. 9d.