Muchty Remembers

Born: 1891, Auchtermuchty, Fife

Son of David Taylor, Auchtermuchty, and Isabella McQueen, Newburgh.

Army Number: 226927 and D/24225

Rank: Sergeant

Regiment: Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders and 2nd/2nd Lovat Scouts.

Died: Died of pneumonia, France, 4 November 1918. Aged 27.

Buried: Etaples Military cemetery, Pas de Calais, France. Plot LXXI Row A Grave 1.

(Army number is given as 226927 Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders on the medal index card)

War Memorial. Parish Church Plaque. Church Roll. Photograph.

 

Robert Taylor was the seventh child of David Taylor, born 26 March 1857, Auchtermuchty, died 10 March 1910, Auchtermuchty, and Isabella McQueen, born 1850 Auchtermuchty, died 1934, Upper Greens, Auchtermuchty.

David Taylor was a road labourer and had six sons and two daughters. In 1881 he was living with his father-in-law, John McQueen, born 1804, Newburgh, Fife, with his wife Isabella and son William. In 1891 David was living in Burnside, Auchtermuchty, and was a linen bleacher, living with his wife and six children.

Robert Taylor was to be born in 1892 and Andrew in 1895. There is no traceable record of the family in 1901.

David Taylor died in 1910 and in 1911 Isabella McQueen Taylor was living in Murray Place, Auchtermuchty, in 2 roomed house, two houses away from Juliafield. Living with Isabella was Robert, 19, blacksmith, beam & scale maker, John White & Son; Andrews, 16, apprentice blacksmith, and Helen Taylor, born 1835, Auchtermuchty, the late David Taylor's mother, who was blind.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The following year Robert Taylor moved to Wishaw, Lanarkshire and in June 1913 was living at 58 Gladstone Terrace.

On 6 June 1913 Robert Taylor, blacksmith journeyman, 21, son of David Taylor, bleachfield worker, deceased, and Isabella Taylor, Maiden Surname McQueen, married, according to the forms of the United Free Church, Barbara Jessie Grant, saleswoman, fruits & confectionery, 21, daughter of Alexander Grant, shepherd and Barbara Grant, Maiden Surname Veitch. The witnesses were Robert’s siblings Andrew and Kate Taylor.

Robert Taylor and Barbara Grant Taylor had at least one son, Robert, born in 1914 or 1915.

Robert Taylor's wife, Barbara Grant, born 1892, Abernethy, Inverness, was the daughter of Alexander Grant, 1850-1934, born Duthill, Inverness and Barbara Jane Veitch, 1861-1939, born Temple, Midlothian, died Shand Street, Wishaw.

 

Robert Taylor was a skilled blacksmith. Though a married man, he was conscripted and joined the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders. He transferred to the 2nd Battalion 2nd Lovat Scouts and was promoted Sergeant.

The Lovat Scouts had been raised by Lord Lovat in the Boer War. In 1903 two Regiments were re-raised, 1st and 2nd Lovat Scouts. In 1914 each Regiment raised a second battalion, and served on the Western Front, Gallipoli, Egypt and Macedonia. In December 1916 1st/1st and 1st/2nd Lovat Scouts were merged and dismounted, to form 10th (Lovat Scouts) Battalion, Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders. The 2nd/1st and 2nd/2nd Lovat Scouts remained at home providing men for the 1st battalions. From 1916 the Battalions were merged to form 1st (Lovat Scouts) Cyclist Battalion.

Robert Taylor was serving in France when he contracted pneumonia. He died on 4 November 1918, a week before the Armistice was signed. He was buried at Etaples, Pas de Calais, France.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Etaples Cemetery, Pas de Calais.                                                 Memorial plaque, Auchtermuchty Church

 

A widow for 39 years, Barbara Grant Taylor died 30 January 1957 at Law Hospital Carluke, widow of Robert Taylor, blacksmith, journeyman. Her usual residence was 10 Shand Street, Wishaw. Robert Taylor, her son, was present. He lived at 3 Priestden Road, St Andrews, Fife.