Sapper Alfred John Taylor

SAPPER ALFRED JOHN TAYLOR

5087 – 1st Tunnelling Company

Northampton, England was the birthplace of Alfred John Taylor about 1879 the son of Edward Francis and Harriett (nee Pollard) Taylor. Members of the Taylor family came to Queensland arriving on February 3, 1883 on board the Duke of Birmingham and consisted of adults Edward (33) and Harriet (29), David (28) Albert (27) and Margaret (27) accompanied by children Charles (9), John (4), Alfred (2), Alex (2) and Eliza (1). Alfred Taylor married Annie Elizabeth Wiechhorst on December 7, 1901 and they had one child.

Enlistment for active service abroad took place at the recruiting depot in Brisbane, Qld on January 19, 1916 where the thirty-six year old miner passed the medical examination. Attestation Forms were completed giving details of his height 169cms (5ft 6½ins), weighed 59kgs (130lbs), with a chest expansion of 89-94cms (35-37ins). Complexion was fresh with blue eyes testing to good vision and brown hair. Distinctive marks were scars on his right foot, abdomen and four vaccination marks. Religion was Baptist. Next-of-kin was his wife Mrs Annie Taylor of Bazaar Street, Maryborough, Qld and allotted three-fifths of his pay to support her and their child. The ‘Oath of Allegiance’ was taken and signed the same day.

Private Taylor commenced basic training at Enoggera Camp, Brisbane on January 19, 1916 with the 11th Depot Battalion until February 29 when he was re-allotted to the Miners’ Depot (1st Military District) to April 1, 1916. Further training took place at their camp in Seymour, Vic where he was assigned to the 3rd Reinforcements No. 2 Company until April 4, 1916 and later re-assigned to the 4th Reinforcements No. 1 Company. His regimental number was 5087 in the rank of Sapper.

While at Seymour on May 25, 1916 was promoted to 2nd Corporal until June 1 progressing in rank to Corporal and for the voyage elevated to Acting-Sergeant.

Acting-Sergeant Taylor was one of 79 Reinforcements departing on HMAT A26 Armadale from Port Melbourne, Victoria on July 19, 1916. Durban, South Africa was reached on August 15, 1916 and leave was granted from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and they departed the next day. Arrived at Cape Town a few days later on August 20, 1916 and a Route March lasting three hours kept them fit before enjoying leave until 11 p.m. The ship was scheduled to leave at 2 p.m. but cancelled and left the following day at 5 p.m. The quality of liquor in town was considered bad. A one-day stopover to refuel at Port le Grand, St Vincent was the last harbour visited on September 8, 1916. After a 64 day voyage the ship arrived at Devonport, England on September 20, 1916. The troops were detrained to Tidworth Station and marched into the Details Camp at Perham Downs but Acting-Sergeant Taylor was admitted to hospital, his illness noted as slightly sick.

On October 2, 1916 he was released to the No. 1 Convalescent Depot at Parkhouse until October 14 when he was taken on strength at the Details Camp at Perham Downs. The following day the Reinforcements proceeded to France arriving at the Aust General Base Depot at Etaples four days later.

Acting-Sergeant Taylor was assigned to the 1st Tunnelling Company. On November 21, 1916 was temporarily attached on draft from the A.G.D.B. to this company and taken on strength two days later and reverted in rank to Sapper.

Service continued without injury or illness until January 6, 1918 when admitted to the 1st Divisional Rest Station with Scabies and Pediculosis (infected with lice) and was discharged to duty four days later.

He was issued with Blue Chevrons to wear on his uniform for twelve months service.

On July 6, 1918 he left the field sick for the 9th Aust Field Ambulance diagnosed with P.U.O. (Pyrexia (Fever) of Uncertain Origin) then transferred to the 61st Casualty Clearing Station and admitted to the Hospital at Abbeville. He was discharged to duty on July 20 and rejoined his unit five days later.

A month later he proceeded on leave from August 21 returning on September 8, 1918.

When Peace was declared he was with his unit and the Tunnelling Companies remained as part of the Army of Occupation assisting the rehabilitation of their area by clearing roads and bridges of delayed-action mines and traps.

On February 12, 1919 the men were recalled to Base to prepare to return to England. Five days later he was conveyed to the 39th General Hospital in France (not yet diagnosed) but was sent to England on the hospital ship Foreman on February 28 entering the 1st Aust Dermatological Hospital at Bulford with a Social Disease. After sixteen days curative care on March 3 he moved to the 1st Convalescent Training Depot at Parkhouse remaining until June 3 when he left for the No. 1 Group Camp at Longbridge Deverill.

Sapper Taylor departed England on July 13, 1919 on board the H.T. Persic for his return voyage to Australia. Base Records sent advice dated August 1, 1918 to his wife that her husband was on his way home. The ship docked in Sydney, NSW (2nd M.D.) on September 2, 1919 and he returned to Brisbane, Qld (1st M.D.)

At the 6th Aust General Hospital at Kangaroo Point, Qld he was medically assessed and found to have ‘no disability’ to which he signed and agreed with as a result of his service abroad and was recommended for demobilisation as fit.

Military Discharge on termination of his period of enlistment was issued in Brisbane (1st M.D.) on October 18, 1919. His wife was still registered at Bazaar Street, Maryborough, Qld that year.

For serving his country Sapper 5087 Alfred John Taylor, 1st Tunnelling Company was issued with the British War Medal (19319) and the Victory Medal (18830).

Two years later his wife died on October 7, 1921 in Brisbane aged 44 years. Notices appeared in The Brisbane Courier on October 8, 1921:

His address changed to Paddington, Brisbane and five months later Alfred John Taylor passed away aged about 43 years in Brisbane on March 19, 1922. Funeral arrangements were announced in The Brisbane Courier on Monday March 20, 1922:

Matters concerning his Estate were advertised in The Brisbane Courier on March 31, 1922:

His photograph and extract were published in the book Queenslanders Who Fought in the Great War:

His unmarked grave together with his wife is located in Portion 4 of the Toowong Cemetery in Section 10 in grave no. 22.