TAYLOR John

1891 Census
The Grove, Little Kyre, Tenbury
William Taylor, head, age 35, Agricultural Labourer
Elizabeth Taylor, wife, aged 24
John Patchett, son, aged 3, born Tenbury, Worcestershire
William Taylor, son, under 1 month

John Taylor enlisted in the Royal Marine Light Infantry at Kidderminster on 14th May 1904 when he stated he was born on 19th October 1886 at Tenbury, Worcestershire and he was employed as a Farm Labourer.  At the time of his enlistment John was 5 feet 5½ inches tall with a fair complexion, blue eyes and auburn hair.  He was discharged from the service on 9th September 1911 when his height had increased to 5 feet 9 inches.  The following day on 10th September he enrolled in the Royal Fleet Reserve.  John’s address on discharge was given as c/o Chief Constable, Worcester.

After the outbreak of war John was immediately called up for service.  He landed at Ostend on 24th August 1914, served at Dunkirk during September and took part in the defence of Antwerp in October 1914.  Promoted to Corporal on 1st January 1915, he joined the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force on 28th February 1915.  He arrived at Gallipoli on 28th April and was killed in action on 6th May 1915.

Worcester Constabulary Records: John Taylor was born on 19th October 1887 in the village of Sutton near Tenbury Wells, Worcestershire.  He resided in Gosport when he was appointed as Police Constable No 295, Worcester Constabulary on 10th October 1911.  He was single and had spent 6½ years as a Marine, last based at Gosport.  He was discharged from the Royal Marine Light Infantry, Service No 13719 on 9th September 1911 but remained in the Royal Naval Reserve.  He was 5 feet 9 inches tall, weighed 12 stone 7lbs, his chest measurement was 38½ inches and he had a fresh complexion with blue eyes and light brown hair.  John spent 2 years and 298 days with the constabulary, rising to Constable 1st Class working at Police Headquarters in Worcester until 12th May 1913 and then at Redditch police station from 13th May 1913 until he rejoined the Navy on 4th August 1914.

The Bromsgrove, Droitwich and Redditch Messenger, Saturday 12th June 1915:
Redditch Policeman killed
Official information is to hand of the death of Police-constable John Taylor who was stationed at Redditch.  A naval reservist, he was in the siege of Antwerp, and was afterwards included in the force sent to the Dardenelles.  He was a single man, and is the second county police-officer to fall.

Bromsgrove, Droitwich and Redditch Messenger digitised by and courtesy of Martin Stephens.

Bromsgrove, Droitwich and Redditch Messenger researched by Jillian Coombes.