Henry NormanTAYLOR

‘Burnley Express’ (21 March 1917)

(Kindly supplied by Robert S. Richardson)

CLITHEROE SOLDIER’S DEATH

News reached Clitheroe on Monday that Pte. Norman Taylor, of the East Lancashire Regt., died in hospital at Whitchurch on Sunday. Eighteen years of age, Pte Taylor was the son of Mr. and Mrs. H. Taylor, of Pimlico-road, and a very popular youth. His father is president of the Clitheroe Grocers’ Association, and his brother borough treasurer of Clitheroe. Pte. Taylor enlisted six weeks ago.

‘Clitheroe Advertiser’ (23 March 1917)

(Kindly supplied by Shirley Penman of Clitheroe and Dorothy Falshaw of Gisburn)

Private Norman Taylor

Died at a Training Camp

General sympathy will be extended to Mr. and Mrs. Henry Taylor on the great loss they have sustained by the death of their youngest son, Private Norman Taylor, who joined the Army with other “eighteeners,” about six weeks ago, and was sent to Whitchurch. He seemed to be enjoying the training, judging from the tone of his letters and, even so late as Wednesday week declared that he was “having the time of his life.” He was not well of Friday, but performed his duties as usual. In the evening, a chum, Private Tom Bourn, went to his hut to see if he was better and was surprised and grieved to see Private Taylor, who was unconscious, being removed to hospital on a stretcher. Private Bourn acquainted the family with the circumstances, and Mr. and Mrs. Taylor left by the first train on Saturday night, reaching the hospital in the early hours of Sunday. To their great distress, Norman never regained consciousness and passed away the same night. The awful suddenness of his death was a terrible blow not only to his family, but to all who knew him, for Norman was a general favourite. Of a bright disposition, his face reflected his sunny nature, and at school, on the cricket and football field, in his father’s store at Waterloo Post Office, and at the Bank of Liverpool (where he was employed prior to joining up) everybody liked him. His brother (the Borough Treasurer), and sisters, and Mr. J. Hargreaves, of Blackburn (uncle) attended the interment at Tilstock, near Whitchurch, on Wednesday afternoon, and simultaneously a memorial service, attended by the family and many sympathisers, was held in the Parish Church, conducted by the Vicar (Rev. J.H. Wrigley). At the Tilstock Cemetery, Private Bourn and other boys of his platoon acted as bearers, the service being jointly conducted by the Chaplain and Captain Owen Jones. The regimental band played the Dead march, a firing party of twenty men heading the cortege.