Herbert Taylor (1896–1968)

Lance Corporal

Royal Field Artillery 107048  
Corps of Military Foot Police P13112  

Whatstandwell F.C. 1922-23 photo, courtesy Simon Johnson

Bert taylor photograph

 

Biography
Herbert Taylor was born at Two Dales, near Darley Dale, on 24th July 1896. He was the second of seven children of Herbert Taylor and Hannah Barker. By 1911 he was living with his family at Longway Bank, Whatstandwell, which is on the outskirts of the parish of Crich. The family remained in the Whatstandwell area throughout the duration of the war, and for some time afterwards. Prior to his military service, Herbert worked as a delver at a local limestone quarry.

During the war, Herbert served as a gunner with the Royal Field Artillery and entered the Western Front on 13th December 1915. It is known that by September 1918 he had transferred to the Military Foot Police, with whom he served as a Lance Corporal. Whilst based at Dieppe in France, Herbert met his future wife Edith Mary Covell, who was serving in Dieppe with the Queen Mary’s Army Auxiliary Corps (formerly the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps). They were married by a regimental chaplain at the Garrison Church in Dieppe on 26th September 1918.

After the war Herbert returned to the Crich area with his wife, and they lived for a time on Carr Lane and had nine children. He played football for Whatstandwell Football Club (see page 249). Herbert’s wife was a native of Norfolk, and the family relocated to the Norfolk village of Worstead in 1929.

During the Second World War, Herbert served with the Corps of Military Police. Following the war he had a prominent role working on a project to repair the sea defences at the coastal town of Cromer which had been damaged by severe storms.

Photo courtesy Christine Taylor

Bert Taylor in WW2

Herbert Taylor passed away at Norwich in 1968, aged seventy-two years. He was laid to rest in the churchyard of the Parish Church of St Catherine’s in Ludham.

Both his brothers, John William and Joseph Henry, served in the army during the war, but were not listed on the original Roll of Honour at Crich as they were living just outside the boundary of the parish of Crich at the time of enlistment.

Family History Notes
Courtesy Christine Taylor

Herbert Taylor was born at the Derbyshire hamlet of Two Dales, near Darley Dale, on 24 July 1896. He was the second of the seven children of Herbert Taylor and Hannah Barker, with two brothers and four sisters, though one of the sisters passed away as a young child. During his early life, Herbert was often known as Bert.

Herbert was raised at Two Dales, though by 1911 he was living with his family at Longway Bank at Whatstandwell, on the outskirts of the parish of Crich. The family are known to have remained in the Whatstandwell area throughout the duration of the war, and for some time afterwards. Prior to his military service during the war, Herbert worked as a delver at a local limestone quarry.

During the First World War, Herbert served as a Gunner with the Royal Field Artillery and entered the Western Front on 13 December 1915. It is known that by September 1918 Herbert had transferred to the Military Foot Police, with whom he served as a Lance Corporal in France. Whilst based at Dieppe in France, Herbert met his future wife Edith Mary Covell, who was serving in Dieppe as a ‘worker’ in Queen Mary’s Army Auxiliary Corps (formerly the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps). They were married by a regimental chaplain at the Garrison Church in Dieppe on 26 September 1918. Hebert was awarded the British War Medal, Victory Medal and the 1914-15 Star.

After he was honourably discharged from the Military Foot Police, Herbert returned to the Crich area with his wife, and they lived for a time on Carr Lane. They had nine children together: six boys and three girls, though one of the girls passed away in infancy. Herbert’s wife was a native of Norfolk, and the family relocated to the Norfolk village of Worstead in 1929. Herbert and his wife would remain residents of Norfolk for the rest of their lives, later moving to the village of Ludham in the 1950s. For a number of years Herbert worked as a road foreman for Norfolk County Council.

During the Second World War, Herbert again served with the Corps of Military Police. Following the war he later found employment with the civil engineering firm May Gurney Ltd of Norwich. Herbert had a prominent role working on a project to repair the sea defences at the coastal town of Cromer which had been damaged by severe storms.

Herbert Taylor passed away at Norwich in 1968, aged seventy-two years. He was laid to rest in the churchyard of the Parish Church of St Catherine's Churchyard in Ludham.

Both of Herbert’s brothers served in the army during the war, but were not listed on the original Roll of Honour at Crich as they were living just outside the boundary of the parish of Crich at the time of enlistment. Herbert’s younger brother Joseph Henry Taylor (1898-1917) served as a Gunner with the Royal Field Artillery. He was living at Alderwasley at the time of enlistment. Joseph was killed in action in July 1917 and is commemorated on the war memorial at Alderwasley

Medal Roll Index Card
He was awarded the Victory, British War and 15 Star medals
He entered France 13 December 1915

Herbert Taylor is also remembered on the Alderwasley Roll of Honour in the Church.

Herbert Taylor's brothers, John William Taylor and Joseph Henry Taylor are also on the Roll of Honour.

CENSUS INFORMATION

1901: DarleyDale

Forename Surname Relationship Age Occupation Where born
Herbert Taylor Head 29 Railway porter Weston Super Mare
Hannah Taylor wife 30   Darley Dale
John W Taylor son 6   Darley Dale
Herbert Taylor son 5   Darley Dale
Joseph H Taylor son 3   Darley Dale
Ada Taylor daughter 2   Darley Dale

RG13 piece 3266 folio 53 page 17

1911: Longway Bank, Whatstandwell

Forename Surname Relationship Age Occupation Where born
Herbert Taylor Head 40 Goods yardsman Weston Super Mare
Hannah Taylor wife 40   Winster
Herbert Taylor son 14 Delver, limestone Quarry Darley Dale
Ada Taylor daughter 12 School Darley Dale
Sarah Taylor daughter 8   Darley Dale
Beatrice Taylor   6   Darley Dale

RG14PN21005 RG78PN1253 RD436 SD6 ED3 SN171

1939 Register: Bengate, Smallburgh, Norfolk
Herbert Taylor b.24 July 1896; public works contractor, navvy foreman, REF aerodrome
Edith M Taylor b.14 July 1896
Joseph H Taylor b.8 December 1925; school
Bernard C Taylor b. 28 January 1928; school
four closed records