Main CPGW Record
Surname: TAYLOR
Forename(s): Geoffrey Hugo
Place of Birth: Southport, Lancashire
Service No: 3319
Rank: Private
Regiment / Corps / Service: Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment)
Battalion / Unit: 1/6th Battalion
Division: 49th (West Riding) Division
Age: 18
Date of Death: 1915-12-04
Awards: ---
CWGC Grave / Memorial Reference: III. G. 1
CWGC Cemetery: TALANA FARM CEMETERY
CWGC Memorial: ---
Non-CWGC Burial: ---
Local War Memorial: LONG PRESTON, YORKSHIRE
Local War Memorial: TOSSIDE, YORKSHIRE
Additional Information:
Geoffrey Hugo Taylor was the son of Charles Thomas and Ann Taylor, née Prichard. Charles was born at Preston, Lancashire and Ann at Lambeth, Surrey. Ann was the daughter of Amos (born Hinton, Herefordshire) and Sarah Prichard (born Swanwick, Derbyshire).
1901 Preston, Lancashire Census: 11, Bushell Place - Geoffrey H. Taylor, aged 4 years, born Southport, Lancashire, son of Charles T. and Ann Taylor
1911 Preston, Lancashire Census: The Harris Orphanage for Boys and Girls - Geoffrey Hugo Taylor, aged 14 years, born Preston, Lancashire.
The British Army Service Record for Geoffrey Hugo Taylor exists but may be incomplete.
British Army WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards: Pte Geoffrey H. Taylor, 6/3319, West Riding Regiment. Theatre of War first served in: 1 [France]. Date of entry therein: 14 April 1915.
A short biography of Geoffrey is included in: ‘In Love, In Gratitude, In Remembrance – Remembering the Men & Women of Slaidburn, Newton in Bowland, Dunsop Bridge, Dale Head & Tosside’ by Margaret Brenchley (2018).
See also:
'Long Preston and the Great War' by Long Preston Heritage Group (2015).
‘Guiseley Terriers: A Small Part in The Great War – A History of the 1/6th Battalion, Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding) Regiment’ by Stephen Barber (2018).
Data Source: Craven’s Part in the Great War - original CPGW book entry
View Entry in CPGW BookEntry in West Yorkshire Pioneer Illustrated War Record: ---
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Private Geoffrey Hugo TAYLOR
Regiment / Corps / Service Badge: Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment)
Divisional Sign / Service Insignia: 49th (West Riding) Division
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Additional Photo(s) For Soldier Records
Talana Farm Cemetery
CWGC Headstone
Courtesy of Aurel Sercu, Boezinge, Belgium
View Craven Herald Articles
View Craven Herald Articles
17 December 1915
LONG PRESTON – DEAD ON THE FIELD OF HONOUR
Mrs. Bentham has received news of the death of Geoffrey Taylor, of the 1/7 Duke of Wellington’s in the annexed letter from Pte. Calvert, of the same regiment:–
“Dear Friend, I am sorry to have to tell you of the loss of my best pal Geoffrey. He was shot by my side and died a soldier’s death, and is a great loss to our company; he always tried to do his duty. We got the parcel you sent him and it was shared out in the platoon, which is generally done when anything happens that way. I should like to keep the Hymn Book, but if you want me to send it back I will be pleased to do so. All the platoon joins in sending our greatest sympathy.”
Another was received from his Lance-Corporal saying a cross had been erected over his grave in the Cemetery close behind the firing line, and a third letter was from J. E. Beecroft to tell how Taylor had been struck in the stomach whilst out repairing wire in ‘No Man’s Land.’
24 December 1915
LONG PRESTON – IN MEMORY OF THE BRAVE
In the Parish Church on Sunday morning the service was in memory of Geoffrey Taylor, lst 6th Duke of Wellington’s, who was killed on 4th December. The Cadets were present. Lieuts. Ward and Sharples read the lessons. The Rev. R. Shipman said the village had been singularly fortunate; it was more than a year since the boys were there in uniform (after the death of Capt. Preston) and some time since they went to the Baptist Chapel to pay tribute to the memory of Harry Evans. There was no distinction between the Private who served faithfully and the Field Marshal. Geoffrey Taylor was an orphan, though indeed he had found a home and a new mother in the parish, and the lad’s life there on earth had been immeasurably gladdened in that Long Preston home. A year ago last November he spoke a few words particularly to the boys. There would come a time of trial in all their lives, and some of the older ones who were with them a year ago had gone to respond to the call of a noble patriotism. He hoped no more of them would have to go, but their comradeship and training would teach them to do things which were sometimes irksome, cheerfully, and be a great help to them in forming character. They need not think that the men in the trenches liked it; they could not like it; but they were there to see it through and to hang on until the work was thoroughly done.
View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles
View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles
24 December 1915
LONG PRESTON – MEMORIAL SERVICE
In the Parish Church on Sunday morning, the service was in memory of Geoffrey Taylor, 1st 6th Duke of Wellington’s, who was killed on December 4th. The Cadets were present, and Lieuts. Ward and Sharples read the lessons. Corinthians xv. 24 ‘Then cometh the end’ was the text taken by Rev. R., Shipman, who said the village had been singularly fortunate. It was more than a year since the boys were there in uniform (after the death of Capt. Preston), and some time since they went to the Baptist Chapel to pay tribute to the memory of Harry Evans. There was no distinction between the private who served faithfully and the field marshal. Geoffrey Taylor was an orphan, though indeed he had found a home and a new mother in the parish, and the lad’s life there on earth had been immeasurably gladdened in that Long Preston home. There would come a time of trial in all their lives and some of the older ones who were with them a year ago had gone to respond to the call of a noble patriotism. He hoped no more of them would have to go, but their comradeship and training would teach them to do things which were sometimes irksome, cheerfully, and be a great help to them in forming character. They need not think that the men in the trenches liked it. They could not like it, but they were there to see it through, and to hang on until the work was thoroughly done. The hymns ‘O, God, our help in ages past’, and ‘A few more years shall roll’, were sung by the choir, and the ‘Dead March’ from ‘Saul’ played on the organ.
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