Muchty Remembers

Born: 1897, Fowlis Wester, Perthsire.

Son of John and Elsie Taylor, Rossie Cottage, Auchtermuchty, Fife, late of Baiglie, Bridge of Earn.

Army Number: 34929. Formerly 655, H.D.T.

Rank: Lance Corporal.

Regiment: 12th Battalion East Surrey Regiment.

Died: Killed in action, 21 October 1918. Age 21. 

Buried: Heestert Military Cemetery, Zwevegern, West Vlaanderen, Belgium. Grave E.8.

Parish Church Plaque.

 

John Taylor, born 1897, at Fowlis Wester, Perthsire, was the second son of John and Elsie or Elias Taylor.

John Taylor, born 10 August 1871, at Dunbog, Fife, was a ploughman. In 1891, John Taylor was a farm servant living at Buttergask, Perthshire, with Robert Mays, labourer, and four other farm servants. About 1895 John Taylor married Elise or Elias, born in Perth. In 1896 John and Elsie Taylor were living at Alyth, Perthshire where Robert was born. In 1897 they were living at Fowlis Wester, Perthsire, where John was born. In 1899 they were at Methven, where James was born.

In 1901 John Taylor, ploughman, was living at Windyedge Cottage, Aberdalgie, with his wife and sons Robert, 5, John, 4 and James 2. In 1902  Mary was born at Abderdalgie. In 1903 John Taylor was living at Gask, Perthshire, where Maggie was born. In 1906 John and Elsie Taylor were living at Forgandenny, Perthshire, where Elsie was born. About 1908 John Taylor moved to Baiglie farm, Dron, where William was born in 1910.

In 1911 John Taylor, ploughman, was living at Baiglie Farm, Dron, Perthshire, with his wife and six children, John, 14, James, 12, Mary 9, Maggie 8, Elsie 5 and William 1.

In 1918 John and Elise Taylor were living at Rossie Cottage, Auchtermuchty, having moved from Baiglie, Bridge of Earn, Perthshire.

 

John Taylor, was conscripted in 1916 or 1917 and joined 12th (Service) Battalion, East Surrey Regiment. Seven Service battalions were raised as part of Kitchener’s Army. The 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 12th and 13th went to France. The 9th, 10th and 12th joined the 1st Battalion on the Battle of the Somme, 1 July to 18 November 1916.

On the 1st July 1916, B Company, 8th Surreys of the 18th Division gained immortality, when they had the effrontery to dribble four footballs across No Man’s Land during the attack on Montauban. They lost 446 men killed, wounded or taken prisoner that day, but  their objectives were secured.

The 12th Battalion fought with distinction at Ploegsteert Wood, on the Somme, at Messines and took part in Third Battle of Ypres, called Passchendaele, 22 June 1917. The 12th Battalion then went on to Italy, where it remained for four months until returning to the Western Front.

John Taylor was promoted Lance Corporal. He was killed in the last month of the war on 21 October 1918. He was buried at Heestert Military Cemetery, Zwevegrern, Belgium.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Heestert War Cemetery, Zwevergrern, Belgium.                         Auchtermuchty Church plaque.