2762 - Australian Electrical and Mechanical Mining and Boring Company

WILLIAM TAYLOR

2762 - Australian Electrical and Mechanical Mining and Boring Company

Born in Aberdeen, Scotland, William was the son of John and Jane Taylor. A Farm Labourer living in Torsdale, Queensland in 1908 and 1913, he was a registered voter in the Electorate of Gladstone.

William signed the ‘Attestation Paper of Persons Enlisted for Service Abroad’, and the Oath to ‘well and truly serve’ at Enoggera, Brisbane, Queensland, on 20 January 1916.

A medical examination on the same day had recorded that he was 22 years of age, 5ft 7ins tall and weighed 8 stone 11 lbs. He had a fair complexion, blue eyes and brown hair.

William named as his Next-of-Kin his father Mr. John Taylor of 807 Great Northern Road, Woodside, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

His training started at 11 Depot Battalion until 23 February 1916. William re-attested on 29 February 1916 and on 6 March he was transferred to the Mining Corps with the rank of Sapper. On 1 April he was assigned to the 3rd Reinforcements, No.2 Company of the Mining Corps and transferred to their camp at Seymour, Victoria.

William embarked at Melbourne, Victoria for the Western Front on 4 April 1916 on board HMAT A14 Euripides. The 80 Tunnellers on board Euripides disembarked at Alexandria and transhipped to the City of Edinburgh before arriving at Marseilles, France on 17 May 1916. They marched into the Australian General Base Depot (AGBD) at Etaples on 1 June 1916.

William was taken on strength of the Australian Electrical and Mechanical Mining and Boring Company (AEMMBC, also known as the ‘Alphabetical company’, or Alphabets) on 3 October 1916.

He reported sick on 13 May 1917 and was admitted to the 110th Field Ambulance with P.U.O. (pyrexia of unknown origin). He was transferred to No.2 Casualty Clearing Station on 16 May and admitted with trench fever. On 19 May he was transferred to Ambulance Train 12 and thence to the 13th Stationary Hospital at Boulogne. William was transferred to No.1 Convalescent Depot, Boulogne on 22 May. He was discharged from hospital as “Fit” on 26 May and marched in to the AGBD on 28 May, rejoining his unit 11 June 1917.

He was due his Blue Chevrons to be worn on his sleeve about this time. Each blue Service Chevron denoted one year’s service from 1 January 1915. A red Chevron denoted service before 31 December 1914.

William proceeded on 14 days leave to England on 10 February 1918. On 26 February he was charged with being absent without leave by overstaying his leave to England by 24 hours. He was awarded a fine of forfeiture of 7 days pay, making his total forfeiture of 9 days pay.

He reported to hospital sick on 5 March 1918 and was admitted to the 1st South African General Hospital at Abbeville. He was transferred to the 39th General Hospital at Havre on 6 March and discharged to duty with the AGBD, Rouelles, on 7 April 1918. He marched out of the AGBD to rejoin his unit on 17 April 1918.

William again reported sick on 27 April and was admitted to the 101st Field Ambulance. Transferred to the 63rd Casualty Clearing Station the same day, and then to the 4th Stationary Hospital at Arques on 28 April. He was discharged to Base Details, Arques, on 29 May 1918, rejoining his unit on 31 May.

On 23 June 1918 William received an accidental head injury and was admitted to the 1st Australian General Hospital at Rouen. He was transferred to the 74th General Hospital at Trouville on 26 June and then to the Australian Convalescent Depot at Havre on 4 July. He was discharged to the AGBD, Rouelles on 18 July, marching out to his unit on 22 July and rejoining the AEMMBC on 24 July.

William was again granted leave from France on 27 February 1919, rejoining his unit on 15 March. On 28 April he marched out to England for repatriation and demobilisation, ending his service with the ‘Alphabets’.

The AEMMBC, with a strength of little more than 300 men, was employed along the entire Western Front providing lighting and ventilation to dugouts and boring for water supplies where needed. They worked with all 5 Armies of the British Expeditionary Force.

William Taylor embarked for Australia on board the H.T. Ormonde on June 16, 1919. Sergeant Hughie Dodd recalls their departure from England in his diary as follows:

1919 - June 16
Bill Davies, Lieut. Norfolk, with about 40 men of the Coy marched out with 37 Quota at 6 this morning for Devonport, sailing at 4 o'clock this afternoon by the Ormonde.

Disembarking at Melbourne on 1 August 1919, William was discharged from the A.I.F on 15 September 1919. He was entitled to wear the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

On 25 June 1921 William Taylor married Jessie Bavister in Queensland. Jessie was born in 1899, the daughter of Edwin & Mary (nee Buckingham/Buckenham) Bavister.

In January 1924 William wrote to Base Records asking that his medals be forwarded to: Mr. William Taylor, Ada Street, Day Park Estate, Wilston, Brisbane, Queensland.

In the 1925 Electoral Roll for Lilley/Enoggera are listed: William Taylor, Ada Street, Wilston (Lilley/Enoggera), labourer, and Jessie Taylor, Ada Street, Wilston, home duties.

Jessie Taylor, daughter of Edwin Bavister and Mary Buckingham, died in 1951 in Queensland.