TAYLOR Joseph

Joseph Taylor enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on 21st November 1916 at Warwick, Queensland. On his attestation paper he gave his place of birth as Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, England, his age as 23 years 2 months and his occupation as a labourer. His next of kin at this time was recorded as his sister, Mrs Jane Smith, “Woodland”, Walgett, New South Wales, Australia. Joseph was 5 feet 3 inches tall with a fair complexion, blue eyes and brown hair.

On 24th January 1917, Joseph sailed from Sydney on the “Ayrshire”, disembarking in Devonport on 12th April 1917 and marching on to Codford on the same day where he joined the 4th Training Battalion. On 28th May 1917 he was awarded 8 days field punishment no 2 and forfeiture of 18 days pay for being absent without leave from midnight on 17th May 1917 to 7pm on 25th May 1917. With his training complete, Joseph sailed from Southampton on 16th July 1917, arriving in Havre on 17th July. On the 18th July he made his will bequeathing everything to his mother, Mrs Fanny Taylor, 7 Church Fields, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, England. After spending time at the Australian Base depot in Havre he was transferred to the 15th Battalion, joining them on 2nd August 1917. Two weeks later he was admitted to hospital with a sprained ankle and over the next two months he was transferred between various medical posts before rejoining his unit on 21st October 1917. However, in November 1917, Joseph was once again charged: ‘when on active service absenting himself without leave from 3pm 22-10-17 to 8.40am 26-10-17.’ He was found guilty and sentenced to 60 days field punishment no 2 and forfeiture of 84 days pay.

Australian Service Records Reference: Barcode 193205 Series Accession No B2455 Location: Canberra
Accessed via: https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/