Scots, _s._ of Thomas Swan, Crimean Veteran; _b._ Athlone,
18 April, 1877; educ. Bells School, Leith; enlisted in the Royal
Scots, 11 Dec. 1895; served through the South African War, 1899–1902
(Queen’s medal with clasps); obtained his discharge, 10 Dec. 1902,
and joined the Reserve, completing his 16 years of service in 1911.
On the outbreak of war he re-enlisted in his old regt., 19 Aug. 1914;
served with the Expeditionary Force in France, and was killed in
action at Hill 60, during the second Battle of Ypres, 21 April, 1915.
He _m._ at St. Thomas’ Church, Leith, 27 Dec. 1907, Annie (3/2,
Corporation Buildings, Leith), dau. of (--) Ferguson, and had five
children: Thomas George, _b._ 6 March, 1911; Robert, _b._ 27
June, 1914; Mary, _b._ 6 Oct. 1906; Susan Jane, _b._ 31 Oct.
1908; and Janet, _b._ 23 June, 1912.
=SWANN, JOHN DAVID LIVERMORE=, A.B. (R.F.R., Ch. B. 9885), 220674,
H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=SWANN, THOMAS HENRY=, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., Ch. B. 7964),
292930, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=SWANN, WILLIAM=, Stoker, 1st Class, S.S. 109372, H.M.S.
Pathfinder; lost when that ship was sunk by a mine, about 20 miles off
the East Coast, 5 Sept. 1914.
=SWEETING, WILLIAM=, Stoker, 1st Class, K. 14608, H.M.S.
Pathfinder; lost when that ship was sunk by a mine, about 20 miles off
the East Coast, 5 Sept. 1914.
=SWEETMAN, JOHN STANLEY=, Capt., Toronto Home Guards, Canadian
Militia, 3rd _s._ of Edward Sweetman, late of Ryde, I.W., Brewer,
by his wife, Emily (42, Priory Road, Hampstead, N.W.), dau. of the
late William Godden, of East Street, Southampton; _b._ Ryde, 28
July, 1890; educ. Hyde Upper Grade School; was an Accountant in the
Bloor Bathurst Street Branch of the Home Bank of Canada; joined the
Toronto Home Guards after the outbreak of war in Aug. 1914, and died
in the General Hospital, Toronto, 12 Oct. 1914, from cerebral-spinal
meningitis, contracted while undergoing a course of training;
_unm._
[Illustration: =John Stanley Sweetman.=]
=SWEETSUR, JAMES HENRY=, Private, No. 1891, 7th Battn. Middlesex
Regt. (T.F.), _s._ of Edward J. Sweetsur, of 58, Grove Road,
Tottenham; served with the Expeditionary Force in France, etc.; killed
in action, 22 March, 1915.
=SWETENHAM, EDMUND=, Lieut., 2nd Battn. Durham L.I., only child of
Clement William Swetenham, of Somerford Booths, Congleton, co. Chester,
late Lieut., R.N., by his wife, Louisa, yst. dau. of Ralph Creyke,
of Rawcliffe and Marton Hall, Yorkshire; _b._ Somerford Booths
aforesaid, 30 April, 1890; educ. Eastman’s Royal Naval Academy; Army
School, Stratford-on-Avon, and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst;
gazetted 2nd Lieut., 2nd Battn. Durham L.I., 20 April, 1910, and
promoted Lieut. 1 Jan. 1914; went to the Front, 1 Oct. 1914, and was
killed in action in the trenches at Rue du Bois, near Armentières, 27
Oct. following; _unm._ Buried there.
[Illustration: =Edmund Swetenham.=]
=SWIFT, JOSEPH=, Private, No. 21026, 2nd Battn. Royal Scots
(Lothian Regt.); served with the Expeditionary Force in France, etc.;
killed in action at Ypres, 11 June, 1915.
=SWIFT, PETER=, Private, No. 9/1834, 3rd Battn. Royal Fusiliers;
served with the Expeditionary Force in France, etc.; killed in action,
26 April, 1915; _m._
=SYMES, HAROLD=, Driver, No. 2499, 1st Battery Home Counties
Brigade, Royal Field Artillery (T.F.), eldest _s._ of Alfred
Symes, of 48, East Street, Littlehampton, co. Sussex, Stonemason, by
his wife, Kate, dau. of William Luxford, of Pulborough; _b._
Littlehampton, 2 June, 1896; educ. there; was a Butcher’s Assistant;
enlisted 4 Oct. 1915, and was accidentally drowned at High Wycombe, 3
Dec. 1915, while in training there; _unm._
=SYMES, JOHN BORKWOOD=, Boy, 1st Class, J. 26728 (Ports.), H.M.S.
Hawke; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914.
=SYMMANS, JOHN=, Gunner, R.M.A., 6749, B. 952, H.M.S. Aboukir;
lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=SYMMS, CHARLES FULLERTON=, Telegraphist, J. 3596, H.M.S. Aboukir;
lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=SYMONDS, ALBERT HENRY=, A.B., 214225, H.M.S. Hogue; lost in
action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=SYMONDS, EDGAR=, Private, No. G6575, 8th (Service) Battn.; served
with the Expeditionary Force in France; killed in action, 20 Oct. 1915;
_m._
=SYMONDS, WILLIAM HARRY=, Private, No. 12059, 2nd Battn. Suffolk
Regt., 2nd _s._ of Spencer Symonds, of Badwell Ash, Bury St.
Edmunds, Farmer, by his wife, Minnie, dau. of the late William Green
Hatten, of Walsham-le-Willows; _b._ Badwell Ash, 13 May, 1894;
educ. Albert College, Framlingham; enlisted on the outbreak of war,
served with his regt. in France and Flanders, and was killed in action
at the Battle of Hooge, 16 June, 1915; buried there in the Sanctuary
Wood; _unm._ A brass tablet has been erected to his memory in the
Parish Church at Badwell Ash.
[Illustration: =William Harry Symonds.=]
=SYMONDS, WILLIAM PERCY=, Stoker, 1st class, K. 5165, H.M.S.
Monmouth; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov.
1914.
=SYMONS, ALFRED ALBERT=, Stoker, 1st Class, K. 11325, H.M.S.
Hawke; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914.
=SYMONS, HERBERT WILLIAM=, Capt., 1st Battn. King’s Own Yorkshire
L.I. (attd. Camel Corps), yr. _s._ of the late Lieut.-Col. Herbert
Charles Symons, formerly commanding King’s Own Yorkshire L.I., by his
wife, Ada Clara (Brooklands, Newport Pagnell, co. Bucks), dau. of
Frederic Wells, of Oaklands, Chelmsford; _b._ Fulford, co. York,
17 Nov. 1884; educ. Uppingham; gazetted 2nd Lieut. to his father’s old
regt. 13 Jan. 1904, joined at Aldershot, 15 Feb. following, and was
promoted Lieut. 4 Sept. 1906, and Capt. 9 Sept. 1914. He was employed
with the West African Frontier Force from 29 March, 1911, to 4 March,
1914, and was then attached to the Somaliland Camel Constabulary. He
was killed in action at Shimber Berris, Somaliland, while serving with
the Camel Corps, 19 Nov. 1914, and was buried at Little Bohotleh,
Somaliland; _unm._ He had the Royal Humane Society’s testimonial
for saving the life of a comrade in South Africa.
=SYMONS, WILLIAM=, Leading Seaman (R.F.R., B. 8056), 203642,
H.M.S. Hawke; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15
Oct. 1914; _m._
=SYNNES, THOMAS=, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., Ch. B. 7950), S.S.
103617, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 1914.
=SYRED, FREDERICK ARTHUR=, C.E.R.A., 1st Class, 149442, H.M.S.
Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=SYRETT, JOHN=, Leading Seaman, 235653, H.M.S. Pathfinder; lost
when that ship was sunk by a mine, about 20 miles off the East Coast, 5
Sept. 1914.
=RENNY-TAILYOUR, HENRY FREDERICK THORNTON=, 2nd Lieut., 5th
Field Company, Royal Engineers, yst. _s._ of Colonel Henry
Waugh Renny-Tailyour, of Borrowfield, Forfarshire, and Shrewsbury
House, Dublin, J.P., late R.E., by his wife, Emily Rose, dau. of John
Wingfield Stratford, of Addington Park, West Malling, Kent; _b._
Homebush, Sydney, New South Wales, 31 July, 1891; educ. Arnold House,
Llanddulas, and Rugby; gazetted 2nd Lieut. to the Royal Engineers, 20
Dec. 1912; went to France with the 5th Field Coy. R.E. 2nd Division,
1st Army Corps, 15 Aug. 1914; was wounded at the Battle of the Aisne,
14 Sept., but did not leave duty, and was killed in action at Ypres,
11 Nov. 1914, while leading his section against the Prussian Guards;
_unm._ He was mentioned in F.M. Sir John (now Lord) French’s
Despatch of 14 Jan. 1915, for gallant and distinguished service in the
field.
[Illustration: =H. F. T. Renny-Tailyour.=]
=TALBOT, EDWARD CHARLES=, Capt. and tempy. Major, 47th Sikhs,
Indian Army, 2nd _s._ of the late Major Francis Arthur Bouverie
Talbot, of 89, Philbeach Gardens, S.W., late Oxfordshire L.I., by
his wife, Alice Mary Beatrice, dau. of Gen. Edward Melville Lawford;
_b._ Biggleswade, co. Bedford, 9 April, 1881; educ. Haileybury
College; joined the Herts Militia, 2 April, 1900; gazetted 2nd Lieut.
to the Bedfordshire Regt., 26 June, 1901, and promoted, Lieut., 23
March, 1904; transferred to the Indian Army, 23 April, 1904, and became
Capt., 2 April, 1909; served in the South African War, 1900–02; took
part in the operations in the Transvaal, west of Pretoria, July to 29
Nov. 1900; operations in the Orange River Colony; operations in Cape
Colony, 30 Nov. to Dec. 1900, July to Aug. 1901, and Oct. to Nov. 1901;
and those in the Orange River Colony, Aug. to Oct. 1901, and Nov. 1901,
to 31 May, 1902 (Queen’s medal with three clasps and King’s medal with
two clasps); and with his regt. with the Indian Expeditionary Force
in France and Flanders, Sept. 1914. He was slightly wounded at Neuve
Chapelle in March, but was able to remain on duty, and was made a
tempy. Major in command of the regt., which he held till he was wounded
at Ypres on 26 April, 1915, and died at Hazebrouck on the 29th, where
he was buried. Capt. Talbot was mentioned in Field-Marshal Sir John
(now Lord) French’s Despatch of 31 May, 1915. While at Haileybury he
played in the Football XV. He _m._ at Weybridge, 30 Sept. 1908,
Dorothy Maynard (Eridge, Teignmouth, South Devon), dau. of Sir William
Gibbons, K.C.B., and had two children: Patricia Mary, _b._ 23 Dec.
1909; Iris Nonie, _b._ 26 Dec. 1913.
[Illustration: =Edward Charles Talbot.=]
=TALBOT, HUMFREY RICHARD=, Lieut., 3rd Prince of Wales’s Dragoon
Guards, yst. _s._ of Gustavus Talbot, of Marchmont House, Hemel
Hempstead, Herts, by his wife, Susan, 2nd dau. of Robert Elwes, of
Congham House, Norfolk, J.P., D.L., and grandson of Rev. the Hon.
George Chetwynd-Talbot [bro. of Henry, 18th Earl of Shrewsbury];
_b._ Ceylon, 11 Sept. 1889; educ. Wellington College and Frieburg,
Germany; gazetted 2nd Lieut. from the Militia to the King’s Liverpool
Regt., then in India, 11 Dec. 1909; promoted Lieut., 16 Sept. 1912;
transferred to 3rd Dragoon Guards, 26 Feb. 1913; left for France, 30
Oct. 1914, and was killed in action by shell fire near Ypres, 13 Nov.
following. Buried in cemetery at Ypres; _unm._ He was a keen
sportsman and was Master of Hounds at Lahore, 1912–13.
=TALLACK, WILLIAM FRANCIS NECK=, Private, No. 4815, 1/17th Battn.
(Poplar and Stepney Rifles) The London Regt. (T.F.), _s._ of Richard
Tallack, of Stepney, by his wife, Mary, dau. of (--) Jones; _b._
Stepney, 10 Oct. 18--; educ. Ben Jonson School there; joined the Poplar
and Stepney Rifles, June, 1915; went to France in Oct., and was killed
in action at Loos, 7 Jan. 1916, being buried there. He _m._ at Camden
Town, N. 17 Dec. 1893, Clara Elizabeth (54, Cecil Road, Leytonstone),
dau. of Robert Spinks, and had seven children: William James, Private,
No. 2824, D Coy., 3/6th Essex Regt., _b._ 1895; Frank Robert, Private,
No. 2825, 3/6th Battn. Essex Regt., _b._ 1897; Richard, _b._ 8 Dec.
1898; Hubert, _b._ 14 Nov. 1900; Frederick, _b._ 29 Dec. 1907; Lily,
_b._ 13 Dec. 1902; and Clara, _b._ 13 Dec. 1905.
[Illustration: =William F. N. Tallack.=]
=TAMPIN, CHARLES THOMAS=, Probationary, 2nd Cook’s Mate, M. 7603,
H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=TANNER, ERNEST EDWIN=, Private, No. 2980, 1st Battn. Coldstream
Guards, 3rd _s._ of John Tanner, of Cheltenham, Labourer, by his
wife, Emma, dau. of John Wheeler; _b._ Cheltenham, co. Gloucester,
16 Sept. 1877; educ. Devonshire Street School there; was Labourer at
Kynock’s Ammunition Works, Birmingham; enlisted in the Coldstreams, 2
Oct. 1899; served in the South African War 7 Nov. 1901, to 4 Oct. 1902
(medal with three clasps, “Cape Colony,” “S.A. 1901,” “S.A. 1902”),
and with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders, 7 Oct. to 12
Nov. 1914, and died a prisoner of war in No. 3 German Field Hospital,
15th German Army Corps, Hallin, of wounds received in action. Buried
at Hallin. He _m._ at Emmanuel Church, Bristol, 3 Aug. 1907,
Lillie (10, Willway Street, St. Phillip’s, Bristol), 3rd dau. of Thomas
Slocombe, of Bristol, and had one son, Arthur Thomas John, _b._ 23
June, 1908.
[Illustration: =Ernest Edwin Tanner.=]
=TANNER, RALPH EYRE=, Capt., 1st Battn. The King’s Liverpool
Regt., elder _s._ of Ralph Tanner, of 2, Little Dean’s Yard,
Westminster Abbey, S.W., M.A., Senior Assistant Master at Westminster
School, by his wife, Lucy Lawrence Le Grice, dau. of George Lewis
Phipps Eyre; _b._ Regent’s Park, 16 July, 1885; educ. South
Kensington Preparatory School; Westminster, and Sandhurst. He was
gazetted on 16 Aug. 1905, as 2nd Lieut. to the King’s Liverpool Regt.,
which had formerly been commanded by his great-uncle, Major-Gen. Edward
Tanner, C.B. He was promoted Lieut. 25 Sept. 1908, and Capt. 16 Sept.
1912, and served for a year with the 1st Battn. in India, 1908–9. On
the outbreak of war he went to the Front with the Expeditionary Force,
and was in the retreat from Mons, behaving in the first action in which
the regt. was engaged, as his Colonel wrote, “with great coolness
under a murderous fire.” On 14 Sept. 1914, during the Battle of the
Aisne, while leading his company through thickly wooded country he was
seriously wounded by a party of Germans upon whom they came suddenly.
Owing to heavy shell fire it was impossible to move from the wood, and
during the course of the day another shell, bursting near, killed the
two stretcher-bearers and wounded Capt. Tanner again. By the devotion
of his men he was carried back some 4 miles to the dressing station,
where he was skilfully doctored by Major A. Martin Leake, V.C., who,
like Capt. Tanner, was an old Westminster. After seven days he reached
Versailles, where he died from his wounds at No. 4 General Hospital,
23 Sept. 1914. He was buried in the Cimitière des Guards with full
military honours, a guard of honour being furnished by a detachment of
French cavalry and a large number of French officers attending. Col.
Bannatyne, who was afterwards himself killed, wrote: “We in the regt.
are sustained by the knowledge that Capt. Tanner met his death when
leading the van in a magnificent attack on the enemy, who were holding
an enormously strong position. The regt. was advance guard to the
whole Division.... Capt. Tanner and Capt. Feneran, both of whom were
wounded, most gallantly sustained the honour of the King’s. Our great
sorrow at his loss will consequently be mingled with pride at his most
gallant conduct.” Letters from his brother officers and from privates
in the regt. testified to the affection in which he was held and how
deeply his loss was felt. Capt. Tanner _m._ at Westminster Abbey,
11 June, 1913, Edith Vere Marjorie, 4th and yst. dau. of John Henry
Brodie, then of Chart’s Edge, Westerham, co. Kent, and had one son:
Peter Ralph Eyre, _b._ 13 Sept. 1914.
[Illustration: =Ralph Eyre Tanner.=]
=TAPLIN, ALFRED CHARLES=, Gunner, R.M.A. (R.F.R., I.C. 76), H.M.S.
Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov.
1914.
=TAPLIN, PERCY CHARLES=, Stoker, 1st Class, K. 7897, H.M.S. Good
Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.
=TAPSFIELD, CLAUDE REGINALD=, Bandsman, No. 704, 1/5th Battn. East
Kent Regt. (The Buffs), 2nd _s._ of the late Frederick Tapsfield,
for 18 years a member of the East Kent Yeomanry, by his wife, Laura
Louisa (2, East Hill, Ashford, Kent), dau. of Valentine Munn (now the
sole survivor of the first 80 men of the 1st East Kent Volunteers sworn
in at Maidstone); _b._ Maidstone, co. Kent, 5 June, 1889; educ.
British School, Ashford, and S.E.A. College, Wye; was a Newsagent and
Tobacconist; joined the Kent Territorials in 1905; volunteered for
foreign service on the outbreak of war; went to India with his regt.
29 Oct. 1914, and died on service at Pachmari, 1 June, 1915, following
an operation for appendicitis; _unm._ Capt. F. Muckley wrote:
“Tapsfield was not only a clever musician and good soldier, but was
so well liked by every one of us for his cheerful good fellowship. He
was attended to his grave by every man of the 5th Buffs stationed at
Pachmari, and buried with military honours.”
[Illustration: =Claude Reginald Tapsfield.=]
=TARN, MARK AITCHISON=, Engine-Room Artificer, H.M.S. Aquarius,
R.N., only _s._ of John Tarn, of Hornby Road, Bootle, Liverpool
(formerly of Alston, Cumberland), Foreman Joiner, Messrs. J. Ellerman’s
Engine Works, Liverpool, by his wife, Mary, eldest dau. of James
Aitchison, of Melrose; _b._ Jarrow-on-Tyne, 1 Aug. 1894; educ.
Christ Church Higher Grade and the Junior Technical Schools, Bootle,
and was nominated by the local authority for training as Engine-Room
Artificer on board H.M.S. Fisgard, Portsmouth, 31 Dec. 1909. Here he
won the high esteem of his officers and comrades by his attention
to duty and proficiency. On the outbreak of war he was appointed to
H.M.S. Vernon, and later to H.M.S. Aquarius, and while serving on the
latter at the Dardanelles was taken ill with acute dysentery. He was
transferred to No. 15 Stationary Hospital, Mudros, Lemnos Island, and
died 31 Aug. 1915, being buried in the cemetery there. Tarn was an
all-round sportsman, being elected captain of the Rugby football team
for three years, and won his cup in the final at Devonport. A memorial
tablet was placed in St. Matthew’s Church, Bootle, where he served as a
choir boy.
[Illustration: =Mark Aitchison Tarn.=]
=TARRANT, WILLIAM THOMAS=, Ship’s Corpl., 1st Class (R.F.R., B.
9590), 209374, H.M.S. Hogue; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept.
1914.
=TATHAM, TREVOR HODGSON STANLEY=, Lieut., Royal Navy, eldest
_s._ of Stanley Tatham, of Montana, Bournemouth, member of the
Institute of Naval Architects, by his wife, Frances Emma Constance
(Montana, Branksome Park, Bournemouth), dau. of Michael Hodgson
Tatham; _b._ Newcastle-on-Tyne, 16 Nov. 1887; educ. The Old Ride,
Branksome Park, Bournemouth; Stubbington House, Fareham, and H.M.S.
Britannia; entered the Navy and became Midshipman, 15 Feb. 1904;
Sub-Lieut. 15 April, 1907, and Lieut. 15 July, 1908; served six years
on H.M. ships Formidable, Duncan and Barham; was A.D.C. to Capt. Walker
while a Midshipman on the Formidable; took part in the Somaliland
Expedition, 1909 (medal); re-appointed to the Formidable (his first
ship), 9 Aug. 1913; and was lost when that ship was torpedoed in the
English Channel, 1 Jan. 1915.
[Illustration: =Trevor H. S. Tatham.=]
=TATLER, ROBERT=, Private, No. 1289, 1st Battn. Australian
Imperial Force, _s._ of the late Robert Tatler, by his wife,
Amelia (14, Longville Road, Newington Butts); _b._ Walworth, 30
Oct. 1891; joined the Australian Contingent on the outbreak of war;
died at Netley Hospital, Southampton, 25 June, 1915; _unm._
[Illustration: =Robert Tatler.=]
=TAVERNOR, JOHN=, Private, No. 11599, 3rd Battn. Coldstream
Guards, elder _s._ of Frederick Tavernor, of 6, Middle Friars,
Stafford, Railwayman, by his wife, Hannah, dau. of Thomas Holmes;
_b._ Rugeley, co. Stafford, 22 Feb. 1891; educ. Rugeley; was a
Joiner by occupation; enlisted on 2 Sept. 1914; went to the Front, 22
Dec. following, and was killed in an attack on the German position at
Cuinchy, Belgium, 6 Feb. 1915; _unm._
[Illustration: =John Tavernor.=]
=TAYLER, ERIC HARDWICK=, 2nd Lieut., 1st Battn. York and Lancaster
Regt., 2nd _s._ of Archdale Tayler, of Manurewa, Auckland,
New Zealand, Accountant, by his wife, (--), dau. of J. G. Culpan,
of Auckland; and grandson of the late Rev. Archdale Wilson Tayler,
of Leeds, England; _b._ 15 Jan. 1894; educ. Auckland Grammar
School; St. John’s College, Tanaka (where he held a Maria Blackett
Scholarship), and Auckland University College. He received a commission
in the Coast Defence Detachment of the 3rd (Auckland) Regt., 11
March, 1912, and in March, 1914, sat for the examination open to the
Territorial Forces of Canada, South Africa, Malaya, and Australasia,
for direct commissions in the regular Army. There were about 180
candidates, and Lieut. Tayler headed the list with 3,307 marks, out
of the possible 4,500. He was gazetted 2nd Lieut. to the York and
Lancaster Regt. 20 June, 1914, and left Auckland two days before the
outbreak of war to join his regiment at Jubbulpore, India. From there
they were ordered to England and went to the front early in 1915. After
about a fortnight in the trenches he contracted pneumonia and was
admitted to the Clearing Station at Hazebrouck, France, 31 Jan. 1915,
and died 9 Feb. following of double pneumonia; _unm._
[Illustration: =Eric H. Tayler.=]
=TAYLOR, ARCHIBALD=, Sergt., No. 7919, 2nd Battn. Royal Sussex
Regt.; served with the Expeditionary Force in France; killed in action,
29 Jan. 1915.
=TAYLOR, ARTHUR CUTHBERT BROOKE=, A.M.I.C.E., Lieut., 6th Battn.
Manchester Regt. (T.F.), 2nd _s._ of Col. Herbert Brooke Taylor,
of The Close, Bakewell, Derbyshire, Solicitor, and his wife, Mary
Taitt, dau. of the Rev. William Mallalieu; _b._ West Bank,
Bakewell afsd., 15 March, 1888; educ. Lady Manners’ School, Bakewell;
and Cheltenham College, and on leaving there took the Engineering
Course at Manchester University, obtaining the Engineering Certificate.
He afterwards joined the firm of Saunders & Taylor, Ltd., and was
elected an Associate Member of the Institute of Civil Engineers. He
obtained a commission as 2nd Lieut. in the 2nd Vol. Battn. of the
Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regt.), and while serving with this
battn. passed the Hythe Course with distinction, and was appointed
to command the machine gun section. His method of adapting machine
guns to mountain warfare when manœuvring in the North Derbyshire
hills demonstrated the possibilities of machine gun warfare which the
present war has so immensely developed. He was promoted Lieut. in Sept.
1907. The 2nd Vol. Battn. Sherwood Foresters was a 13-company battn.,
and when the Territorial scheme came into operation was nearly 1,500
strong. The reduction of the infantry quota of Derbyshire necessitated
the reduction of the battn. to eight companies. As a result Lieut.
Brooke Taylor reverted to the rank of 2nd Lieut. rather than retain
his rank and pass to the reserve. As his business necessitated his
residence nearer Manchester than Bakewell, he applied to be attached
for training to the 6th Manchesters, and declining a captaincy in his
old battn., was transferred as a Lieut. to this reg., in the spring
of 1914. He was shortly afterwards appointed instructor of musketry
to the battn., and held that position at the time of his death. On
the outbreak of hostilities he volunteered and went to Egypt with the
East Lancashire Division, and eventually to Gallipoli, where he landed
early in May, 1915. He was killed in action there 4 June following;
_unm._ A fortnight before, on the death of the senior Capt. of
his company, he had been appointed second in command, and his Colonel
wrote: “I do not think it would be possible to speak too highly of his
character and qualities. During the time of training, from mobilisation
up to the end of our time in Egypt, he was untiring in his special
work of pushing on the musketry instruction of the men, and was always
full of work, valuable ideas and suggestions. With his keenness and
attractive character he could, of course, do anything with the men, and
he had a large share in making the battn. the splendid fighting force
it proved to be. No one was keener or more anxious to see service.” And
a brother officer: “Brooke Taylor did the work of four men. His energy
and fearlessness was an example to everyone.”
[Illustration: =Arthur C. B. Taylor.=]