Pte
Reuben Harry Taylor
Information about birth
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Year of birth: 1888 |
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Place of birth: Lewisham, Kent, England, United Kingdom |
General information
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Last known residence: 340 Shirland Lane, Attercliffe, Sheffield, England, United Kingdom |
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Profession: Labourer |
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Religion: Church of England |
Army information
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Country: England, United Kingdom |
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Force: British Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Private |
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Service number: 238023 |
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Enlistment date: 05/07/1916 |
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Enlistment place: Sheffield, Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom |
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Units: — York & Lancaster Regiment 1/4th Bn. (Hallamshire) (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 09/10/1917 |
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Place of death: Fleet Cottage, 's Graventafel, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 29 |
Cemetery
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Tyne Cot Cemetery Plot: XIX Row: G Grave: 8 |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 4
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Last known residence | ||
| #3 | Enlistment place | ||
| #4 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Reuben Harry Taylor was the son of Ralph Russell and Emily Taylor. He was born around 1888 in Lewisham, London, Kent. Before the war, he lived in Attercliffe, Sheffield, Yorkshire, and worked as a labourer. He married Alice, and together they had a daughter, Rosetty Emily. Rosetty died on 7 May 1918 of acute bronchitis. Reuben enlisted in the British Army in July 1916 and served in the 1/4th Battalion York & Lancaster Regiment (148th Brigade, 49th (West Riding) Regiment).
Reuben was killed on 9 October 1917 during the Battle of Poelkapelle, part of the Battle of Passchendaele. The starting lines of the 49th (West Riding) Division ran from Kronprinz Farm to near Berlin Wood. The division aimed first to advance to the line from Wolf Farm to Lamkeek, and then to push on to a line from Woodland Plantation to Duck Lodge. The 1/4th Battalion York & Lancaster Regiment also took part in this attack.
At around 4:00 a.m., the battalion had reached its assembly positions. Due to the heavy rainfall prior to 9 October, the terrain had become a sea of mud. The first obstacle the battalion faced was the Ravenbeek, which had become deep and wide due to the heavy rain. Only a group of about 50 men of C Company managed to cross the stream. The troops of B Company came under heavy machine-gun fire from Waterfields and Laamkeek and were held up. On the left, the fire was less intense, and troops of A and B Companies succeeded in crossing the Ravebeek near the Graventafel Road. Troops from A Company managed to reach Marsh Bottoms and dug in there. D Company attempted to move past them but did not succeed.
During the Battle of Poelkapelle, the 1/4th Battalion York & Lancaster Regiment suffered nearly 300 losses. Reuben, too, was killed, at the age of 29. After the war, his body was found near Fleet Cottage. He was reburied at Tyne Cot Cemetery, where he still rests today.
Reuben was killed on 9 October 1917 during the Battle of Poelkapelle, part of the Battle of Passchendaele. The starting lines of the 49th (West Riding) Division ran from Kronprinz Farm to near Berlin Wood. The division aimed first to advance to the line from Wolf Farm to Lamkeek, and then to push on to a line from Woodland Plantation to Duck Lodge. The 1/4th Battalion York & Lancaster Regiment also took part in this attack.
At around 4:00 a.m., the battalion had reached its assembly positions. Due to the heavy rainfall prior to 9 October, the terrain had become a sea of mud. The first obstacle the battalion faced was the Ravenbeek, which had become deep and wide due to the heavy rain. Only a group of about 50 men of C Company managed to cross the stream. The troops of B Company came under heavy machine-gun fire from Waterfields and Laamkeek and were held up. On the left, the fire was less intense, and troops of A and B Companies succeeded in crossing the Ravebeek near the Graventafel Road. Troops from A Company managed to reach Marsh Bottoms and dug in there. D Company attempted to move past them but did not succeed.
During the Battle of Poelkapelle, the 1/4th Battalion York & Lancaster Regiment suffered nearly 300 losses. Reuben, too, was killed, at the age of 29. After the war, his body was found near Fleet Cottage. He was reburied at Tyne Cot Cemetery, where he still rests today.
Sources 7
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1/4 Battalion York and Lancaster Regiment. (The National Archives, KEW (TNA), WO 95/2805/1). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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1911 England Census (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), RG14). http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk Sources used |
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British Army World War I Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920 (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), WO372). http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk Sources used |
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McCarthy, Chris. Passchendaele: The Day by Day Account (Londen: Arms & Armour Press, 2018), 118-123. Sources used |
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Percy, Douglas, The 1/4th (Hallamshire) Battn., York and Lancaster Regiment, 1914-1919 (London 1926), 79-87. Sources used |
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Sheffield Archives; Sheffield, England; Parish Registers (PR21/1/7) http://www.sheffield.gov.uk Sources used |
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War Office: Soldiers' Documents (The National Archives, Kew (TNA) WO363). http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk Sources used |
More information 3
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/464860 |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/5450025 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=089fa991-9a15-4256-9a5d-8f5ebcbe7251 |