Pte 90935 Edmund Taylor

Edmund Taylor was born in the December quarter of 1898 in New Hey, near Rochdale, Lancashire, the only son of Thomas Taylor and his wife Alice (née Dyson). Thomas and Alice, both from New Hey (also written Newhey), married in 1893 and had three children. Edmund had an older sister Gertrude and a younger sister Hilda.

 

In 1901 Census his parents with Gertrude and Edmund, are living with his widowed grandmother, Sarah Taylor, at 16 Haugh Lane, New Hey. His father, 34, is a clogger working on his own account at home, his mother is aged 35 and Edmund is 2.

 

They are still at 16 Haugh Lane in 1911. His father, 44, is a clog maker, his mother is 45. Gertrude 16, is a  cotton mill winder, Edmund is 12, and Hilda 3.  Also in the household are his grandmother Sarah, 70, and aunt Mary Alice Taylor, 46, a woollen weaver.

 

Edmund enlisted in Rochdale in February 1917, when he was 18 years old. He must have lied about his age in order to serve overseas. He was posted to the 17th Battalion of the King’s Liverpool Regiment, and at some point was transferred to the 4th Battalion King’s Liverpool Regiment.

 

Edmund was initially declared Missing on 21st September 1918.  

His family requested information in the Rochdale Observer on 26th October:

”Private Edmund Taylor (19), King’s Liverpool Regiment of 16 Haugh Lane, Newhey, is posted as missing on September 21st.  He was a clogger.” 

His death was confirmed in early November; in the Rochdale Times on 6th November 1918:

“Yesterday morning Mr. and Mrs. Taylor, of 16, Haugh Lane, Newhey, received official intimation that their son, Private Edmund Taylor, King’s Liverpool Regiment, was killed in action on September 21.  A fortnight previously word had come through that he was missing.  The deceased was 19 years of age and enlisted on February 16, 1917, prior to which time he assisted his father in the clogging business in Dale Street, Milnrow. He went out to France on January 12 this year. He was connected with the Ogden Baptist Church and Sunday School, Newhey, and was a former member of the Newhey Liberal Club.”
 

Edmund now rests at Villers-Guislain Communal Cemetery.

Villers-Guislain was severly damaged by shell fire during the War.

There are now over 50, 1914-18 war casualties commemorated in this site. Of these, a small number are unidentified and eighteen graves, destroyed by shell fire, are now represented by Special Memorials

The plots cover an area of 202 square metres.

His Army effects and a War Gratuity of £7 went to his father Thomas.  It is not clear from the pension card, in the name of his mother at 16 Hough Lane, whether she was awarded a pension or in what amount.  The card shows his father later living at 5 Albert Street, Milnrow.

 

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