Pte 32555 Granville Taylor

• Age: 28
• From: Marple, Cheshire
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• D.O.W Sunday 20th October 1918
• Commemorated at: Maurois Cc
  Panel Ref: 74

Granville Taylor was born at Marple in 1890, the son of Joseph Taylor and his wife Elizabeth (née Shacklady). Joseph, born near Oldham, and Elizabeth, from Liverpool, married in Oldham in 1886. Granville was the third of four children; he had older siblings Marian, born in 1887 and Joseph in 1889, and younger sister Gladys, 1893.

In 1891 the family, with three children, is living in Chadwick Street (Church Lane), Marple.  Granville is 1. His father is a clerk. They are still in Chadwick Street in 1901, with four children. His father is an assurance agent, Granville is 11.

By 1911 they have moved to 35 Church Street, Marple. His father is 57, a builder’s clerk, his mother is 55, Marian, 24, and Gladys, 18, are cotton weavers, Joseph, 22, is a railway clerk, and Granville, 21, is a postman.

It is estimated, based on the amount of the War Gratuity, that Granville served for three years, meaning he would have enlisted in about September 1915. He enlisted at Buxton, Derbyshire originally serving with the 14th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment. Following a transfer he was serving with the 18th Battalion (C Company), of the K.L.R. as Private No 32555 when he died of wounds on the 21st October 1918 aged 28 during the hundred days offensive which ended the First World War (8th August-11th November 1918).

He now lies in Maurois CC, France where his headstone bears the epitaph:

“TRANQUIL YOU LIE YOUR KNIGHTLY VIRTUE PROVED YOUR MEMORY HALLOWED IN THE LAND YOU LOVED”

The inscription is from the Hymn "O Valient Hearts" by John Stanhope Arkwright. 

Maurois village was the scene of fighting in the Battle of Le Gateau, 1914, and it remained in German hands until it was occupied by the South African Brigade on the 9th October, 1918. There are now over 80, 1914-18 war casualties commemorated in this site. Three were buried by the enemy in August, 1914, three by their comrades in October, 1918, and one in October, 1918 in a single grave. The remainder were buried in October and November, with one of February, 1919. The plot covers an area of 286 square metres.

A touching tribute to Granville in Marple Memorial Park reads: 

“After several weeks of anxiety, Mr. & Mrs. Taylor of Church Street received official news that their son Granville was killed in action in France.  To some extent they were prepared because from the beginning of November they were receiving news indirectly that did not leave them much ground for hope that they would see their son again. A letter from his Company Captain explained that while Pvt. Taylor was on his way to draw food from the cookhouse a shell exploded and wounded him in the stomach.  He received immediate attention at a field ambulance but died the same day. There is hardly one Marple soldier more generally mourned than Granville Taylor.  For years he was the village postman and every family in the district knew him.  Jolly and jovial and always ready to oblige he was liked by all, even those who knew him most casually, while his intimates thought the world of him.  His death is a crashing blow to his father, mother, and sisters who, however, have been made to feel that their grief is shared by all the community, gentle and simple.”

His parents received Granville’s effects, including a War Gratuity of £17, and a pension of 15/- a week.

Probate was granted in 1925 after an inexplicably long delay, also giving an erroneous date of death: “Granville Taylor of 35 Church Street Marple Cheshire died 20 April 1918 in France Administration London 15 May Effects Joseph Taylor clerk £107 17s 2d.”

Granville is commemorated on the following memorials:

All Saints Memorial Cross,

Marple Marple War Memorial

St Martin’s Church Low Marple.

Stockport Postal Staff Memorial

Stockport Memorial Hall and Art Gallery

We currently have no further information on Granville Taylor, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.