William Henry Taylor 4792

SAPPER WILLIAM HENRY TAYLOR

4792 – Australian Electrical and Mechanical Mining and Boring Company

When William Henry Taylor completed the ‘Attestation Paper of Persons Enlisted for Service Abroad’ in February 1916 at Claremont, Tasmania, he stated he was born at Flinders Island, Tasmania and that he was 44 years and 11 months of age.

Birth, Death and Marriage (BDM) records show William Henry Taylor was born on 10 April 1871, the son of Henry Woodward and Hannah H (nee Hawkins) Taylor, the birth being registered at George Town, Tasmania. The BDMs also record William Henry Taylor married Jessie Hill on 14 May 1893 at Launceston, Tasmania.

The 1914 Electoral Roll records William Henry Taylor, stoker, and Jessie Taylor, domestic duties, living at Hillside, Beaconsfield, Tasmania.

On the Attestation Paper, William stated that he was an engine driver and boiler fitter by trade. He named as his Next-of-Kin his wife Mrs Jessie Taylor of 29 Gleadow Street, Inveresk, Launceston, Tasmania and allotted three-fifths of his pay for the support of his wife and four children.

A medical examination on 11 February 1916 at Launceston recorded that he was 45 years and 11 months of age. He stood 5ft 4½ins tall and weighed 158 pounds. He had a dark complexion, blue eyes and black hair and was of the Church of England faith. William was considered to be ‘fit for active service’ and he signed the Attestation Paper the same day.

William signed the Oath to ‘well and truly serve’ on 23 February 1916 at Claremont, Tasmania and was appointed to No.5 Tunnelling Company in Tasmania on 1 March 1916. On 28 April he was transferred to the No.5 Tunnelling Company camp at Broadmeadows, Victoria.

He embarked at Melbourne for the Western Front on 25 May 1916 on board Warilda.

Two Sections of the Northern recruits to form the No.4 Company had embarked from Brisbane, Queensland early in May, 1916 aboard HMAT A69 Warilda for Sydney, New South Wales (NSW). Six officers and 152 other ranks together with the 1st Reinforcements of fifteen other ranks made up the two sections.

At Rosebery Park, Sydney, NSW they joined their Headquarters and two sections (8 officers & 153 O.Rs.) plus 1st Reinforcements consisting of one officer and seventeen other ranks for final training.

The 7713 ton transport departed Sydney, NSW on May 22, 1916 and collected in Melbourne, Victoria the No.5 Company recruited from Victoria, South Australia & Tasmania consisting of a Headquarters and 2 Sections (8 officers & 173 men) (3 M.D.). 1 Section from Tasmania (3 officers & 76 O.Rs); also 1st Reinforcements for No.5 Company (17 men from Vic. & 8 men Tas.) The ship departed on May 25, 1916 for Adelaide, S.A. to collect one Section of 3 officers & 76 O.Rs with 1st Reinforcements of 8 O.Rs.

Docking at Fremantle, W.A. on June 1, 1916 No.6 Company recruited from W.A. of 14 officers and 325 O.Rs along with 1st Reinforcements of 1 Officer & 32 O.Rs embarked and Warilda departed the same day for the European theatre. Durban, South Africa was reached on June 16, 1916 and Cape Town on June 21, 1916 while St Vincent completed the African ports of call on July 7, 1916. Discipline was fairly good except at intermediate ports where soldiers going Absent Without Leave caused concern. The fifty-eight day voyage experienced remarkable pleasant weather and terminated at Plymouth, England on July 18, 1916. Four, Five and Six Companies comprising of 1064 officers and other ranks were detrained to Amesbury and Tidworth to begin training for the front.

At Perham Downs on 1 August he was charged with ‘disobedience to a lawful command given by a superior officer and was awarded 14 days C.B. (confined to barracks).

William proceeded overseas to France on 21 September 1916 and marched in to the 2nd Australian Divisional Base Depot (2ADBD). On 12 October he marched out to the 1st Anzac Reinforcement Camp. He was transferred to the Australian Electrical and Mechanical Mining and Boring Company (AEMMBC) where he was taken on strength on 14 October 1916.

For his service he was due Blue Chevrons. Each blue Service Chevron denoted one year’s service from 1 January 1915. A red Chevron denoted service before 31 December 1914.

He was reported as being with his unit on 23 March 1918. On 14 October 1918 he was attached for duty to the 355th Electrical and Mechanical Company, Royal Engineers.

William enjoyed some leave from 29 November until 13 December 1918 when he rejoined his unit.

On 14 February 1919 he marched out of the AEMMBC for demobilisation and marched in to the Australian General Base Depot. He marched out to England on 22 February and marched in to the 1st Training Brigade.

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 left London on 21 March 1919 on board Kildonian Castle. He was admitted to the Ships Hospital on 11 April for 5 days with an abscess. Disembarking in Tasmania on 2 May, William was discharged from the A.I.F. on 8 July 1919, entitled to wear the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

The 1919 Electoral Roll records William Henry Taylor, fitter, living at 98 York Street, Launceston, Tasmania.

The Victorian BDMs record Jessie Taylor, daughter of Henry and Mary Ann Hill, having died at Richmond, Victoria in 1923, aged 50.

The 1924 Electoral Roll records William Henry Taylor, engine driver, living at 40 Curzon Street, Melbourne, Victoria.

The BDM records that William Henry Taylor died in Victoria in 1948 age 77, son of Harry Taylor and Mary Ann.

BDMs record:

Ivy Camilla Anne Taylor, daughter of William Henry Taylor and Jessie Hill, died at Collingwood, Victoria in 1957 age 61.

Allan William Chas Taylor, son of William Henry Taylor and Jessie Hill, born at Beaconsfield, Tasmania in 1899.

Alan William Charles Taylor, son of William and Jessie Taylor, died at Cambrian Hill, Victoria in 1965 age 67.