WW1 Casualty: Private 12322 Bertie Taylor - Private 12322 Bertie Taylor
Prescot Reporter 29/10/1915
| Unit/Regiment |
6th Bn, King's Own Scottish Borderers |
| Date of Death |
25/09/1915 |
Age at Death |
21 |
Burial/Memorial
& Reference |
Loos Memorial
Panel 53 to 56 |
| CWGC Family Details (if shown) |
Son of James and Grace Taylor, of 33, Columbia Rd., Prescot, Lancs. |
| Census Details |
1901 Census -
17 Cross Street, Prescot. James (37, a watch hand maker) and Grace (34), lived with their children Harry (13), Bertie (7) and Edith (1 month)
1911 Census -
33 Columbia Road was the home of James and Grace Taylor, along with their children Bertie (17), a Junior Clerk at the Wire Works, Edith, Florence and Emma |
| Birth/Marriage/Death Registrations |
Birth registered Q1/1894, Prescot, 8b, 700 |
| SDGW - Where Born |
Prescot, Lancs |
| Enlisted |
Warrington, Lancs |
| Resided |
Prescot, Lancs |
| How Died |
Killed In Action |
Theatre of War |
France & Flanders |
| Research Ref. No. |
P270 |
Service DetailsAt the outbreak of war in August 1914, the two Regular Battalions and the two Territorial Battalions (4th and 5th) of the King's Own Scottish Borderers were mobilized. In addition, 'New Army' Battalions (6th, 7th and 8th) were raised, together with a 9th Battalion, which provided reinforcements for the other Battalions, and a 10th (Garrison) Battalion.
By 1915, the 6th Battalion was amongst others ready for the forthcoming Battle of Loos.
An artillery attack on the German lines had started on September 21st and 250,000 shells were fired at the German positions. On the 24th Haig was given the news that the predicted weather for the 25th was favourable and he ordered that poison gas would be used. Weather reports very early on the 25th indicated that the weather was "changeable" and Haig was advised to release the gas as soon as was possible. At 05.15 on the 25th Haig ordered the release of chlorine. However, from the front line reports came back that the wind was too calm for the gas to be released.
At 05.50 gas was released from pressurised cylinders. The release of chlorine gas occurred on and off over a 40 minute period. The infantry attack started at 06.30.
In some places the attack was very successful - the 15th Division including the 6th Battalion, KOSB, got into Loos and took the town after night time street fighting. However, in some areas, lack of communication caused problems. At the La Bassee Canal, the officer in charge of releasing the chlorine failed to do so as he did not believe that the conditions were right. He only turned on the pressurised gas cylinders when he was ordered to do so - and poisoned 2,632 of his own men, with seven fatalities.
The 6th Battalion suffered very heavy casualties at the Battle of Loos. One of those killed was Private Bertie Taylor. His body was never identified and he is remembered on the Loos Memorial.
The Parish Magazine of 26th October 1915 reported 'It is with great sorrow that I have to record the death of yet another Sunday School teacher, Bert Taylor, an orderly in the K. O. S. Borderers. He was killed in action during the successful British attack on Loos on 25th September. He was 22 years of age. He is the 22nd Prescotian to lay down his life for God and Country'.
Prescot Reporter 14th September 1917.
The Register of Soldiers Effects entry for Pte Taylor
Bertie Taylor's Medal Index Card shows him arriving in France on 12th May 1915 and being killed in action just over four months later.
The panel of the Loos Memorial bearing the inscription for Bertie Taylor.
The Taylor family grave in St Mary's Churchyard contains an inscription in memory of Bertie. I am grateful to the Friends of Prescot Churchyard & Cemetery for providing the following pictures of the inscriptions.
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