TAYLOR George Alfred James

Appears on the Army casualties list for Worcestershire.

On the 1939 Register, George and Nellie Taylor reside at 7 West Street, Evesham.

A letter from J. Cathcart Davies, Cropthorne Vicarage dated 13th May 1950 can be found within war records held at Worcestershire Archives requesting that Sergeant G.A.J Taylor, Royal Armoured Corps be added to the county roll of honour.

The following information has been researched by John Barry:
George Alfred James Taylor was born at Cropthorne, Worcestershire on the 13th December 1919 and baptised in the Parish Church on the 18th January 1920. He was educated at Cropthorne Primary School and Pershore High School. Prior to enlisting in the army at the age of 18 he worked in the agricultural trade.

Tewkesbury Gazette, 22nd July 1944
Cropthorne Sergeant Killed
Sergeant G.A. Taylor
Official news of the death in action of Sergeant George Alfred Taylor, of the R.A.C., has been received by his wife. Sergt Taylor joined the Forces in January, 1938, and was wounded in the foot in France in June, 1940. He married the only daughter of Mr and Mrs A.E. Beaumount, on April 22 of this year, and much sympathy is extended to her. He is the eldest son of Mr and Mrs G. Taylor, of Cropthorne. His father was taken prisoner by the Germans during the battle of Mons, and his youngest brother has been serving in the Royal Navy for the past four years.
The report includes a photograph of Sergeant G.A. Taylor.

Evesham Standard, 29th July 1944
Cropthorne
Death of Sergeant G.A.J. Taylor
The death of Sergeant George Alfred James Taylor, of the R.A.C., who was killed in action in Normandy early in June, came as a great shock to his wife, parents and friends. Much sympathy is felt for his wife, the only daughter of Mr and Mrs A.E. Beaumount, of Cropthorne, whom Sergt. Taylor married at Cropthorne Parish Church in April last. He was the eldest son of Mr and Mrs G. Taylor. He was 24 years of age, joined the Forces in January 1938 and was wounded in the foot in France in June, 1940. Among the many letters of sympathy his wife has received is one from his Commanding Officer testifying to Sergt. Taylor’s ability and devotion to duty. His father was taken prisoner during the battle of Mons in the last war. Mr Taylor’s youngest son has been serving in the Royal Navy for the past four years. A memorial service to the memory of Sergt. Taylor was held at the Parish Church on Sunday evening, when a large congregation was present, including members of the local Home Guard, N.F.S. and A.R.P. The service was conducted by the Vicar (the Rev. J. Cathcart Davies), and Mrs R.H. Cole presided at the organ.

The 8th June 1944 was the 24th Lancers first action, operating on the left of the Canadians between Loucelles and Putot-en-Bessin a few miles west of Caen, the 12th SS Panzer division had just launched a heavy counter-attack against the Royal Winnipeg Rifles in Putot-en-Bessin. A Squadron came up on their right in support, and Sergeant George Taylor, along with the Squadron commander Capt. A. Poole bear the unlucky distinction of being the regiments first men killed in action, both being shot in the head by enemy riflemen or snipers while standing with their heads out of the tank turret (normal practice). He was one 9 men killed that day.