Pte
Albert James Gerald Taylor
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 28/02/1897 |
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Place of birth: Hobart, Tasmania, Australia |
General information
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Last known residence: 77 Goulburn Street, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia |
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Profession: Printer |
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Religion: Church of England |
Army information
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Country: Australia |
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Force: Australian Imperial Force |
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Rank: Private |
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Service number: 4083 |
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Enlistment date: 24/11/1915 |
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Enlistment place: Claremont, Tasmania, Australia |
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Units: — Australian Infantry, 47th Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 12/10/1917 |
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Place of death: Dash Crossing, Broodseinde, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 20 |
Cemetery
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Tyne Cot Cemetery Plot: III Row: A Grave: 11 |
Distinctions and medals 3
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British War Medal Medal |
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Military Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 3
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Enlistment place | ||
| #3 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Albert James Gerald Taylor was born the son of Albert Taylor and Isabell Emily Taylor. He had already gained some cadet experience and he entered military service on August 31, 1915. He left the Australian mainland on Nov. 24, 1915, and arrived in France on June 9, 1916. His unit was the 47th Bn. Australian Infantry, part of the 12th Australian Brigade, 4th Australian Division.
He distinguished himself during his service and obtained the Military Medal, a high award for gallantry in the field, on April 26, 1917. His recommendation read as follows: 'For personal bravery and great intrepidity and enterprise as a scout and patrol leader during operations E of GUEUTECOURT Feb 9 & 20 1917. Albert led several very daring reconnaissances into enemy trench.' Remarkably, General Birdwood also sent a letter to Albert's parents. Birdwood was the commander of the Australian and New Zealand troops for nearly the yellow war.
What follows here is a piece from a letter from General Birdwood, published in a newspaper, which indicates why, according to Birdwood, Albert was certainly entitled to the medal: 'He led several daring reconnaissance right into the enemy's trenches a considerable distance in front of our lines. On one occasion he formed one of [a] party making daylight reconnaissances in no-man's land under enemy wire all day, gaining information which proved of considerable value.'
The 4th Australian Division participated in the First Battle of Passchendaele, part of the Third Battle of Ypres which had been in progress since July 31, 1917. The 4th Australian Division's objective on October 12, 1917, was to advance over the Broodseinde ridge to Keiberg Spur, flanking the 3rd Division which was advancing north of the railroad towards Passchendaele. The 47th Battalion was given the task of capturing and holding the red line. This ran roughly from the railroad embankment to Assyria. Then the 48th Battalion would continue the attack.
The attack faced immediate setbacks. The soldiers were tired from marching through the mud. The battalion headquarters, located in a bunker on the Broodseinde ridge, was hit by German artillery shells. Nearly all the signalmen and couriers were casualties, making further communications more difficult during the battle. One of those killed was Albert James Gerald Taylor; he was hit in the head.
The Germans retreated, but once the 48th Battalion advanced they faced heavy German fire from Vienna Cottage. This was in the 3rd Division's sector, but heavy resistance had prevented them from advancing. The German position at Vienna Cottage was eliminated, but finally, for lack of support, 47th and 48th Battalions had to retreat to their starting positions. Both battalions lost a total of nearly 1,000 soldiers.
Albert James Gerald Taylor was temporarily buried in close proximity Headquarters, between Dash Crossing and Defy Crossing, near the railroad embankment. Presently he rests in Tyne Cot Cemetery. He was 20 years old.
He distinguished himself during his service and obtained the Military Medal, a high award for gallantry in the field, on April 26, 1917. His recommendation read as follows: 'For personal bravery and great intrepidity and enterprise as a scout and patrol leader during operations E of GUEUTECOURT Feb 9 & 20 1917. Albert led several very daring reconnaissances into enemy trench.' Remarkably, General Birdwood also sent a letter to Albert's parents. Birdwood was the commander of the Australian and New Zealand troops for nearly the yellow war.
What follows here is a piece from a letter from General Birdwood, published in a newspaper, which indicates why, according to Birdwood, Albert was certainly entitled to the medal: 'He led several daring reconnaissance right into the enemy's trenches a considerable distance in front of our lines. On one occasion he formed one of [a] party making daylight reconnaissances in no-man's land under enemy wire all day, gaining information which proved of considerable value.'
The 4th Australian Division participated in the First Battle of Passchendaele, part of the Third Battle of Ypres which had been in progress since July 31, 1917. The 4th Australian Division's objective on October 12, 1917, was to advance over the Broodseinde ridge to Keiberg Spur, flanking the 3rd Division which was advancing north of the railroad towards Passchendaele. The 47th Battalion was given the task of capturing and holding the red line. This ran roughly from the railroad embankment to Assyria. Then the 48th Battalion would continue the attack.
The attack faced immediate setbacks. The soldiers were tired from marching through the mud. The battalion headquarters, located in a bunker on the Broodseinde ridge, was hit by German artillery shells. Nearly all the signalmen and couriers were casualties, making further communications more difficult during the battle. One of those killed was Albert James Gerald Taylor; he was hit in the head.
The Germans retreated, but once the 48th Battalion advanced they faced heavy German fire from Vienna Cottage. This was in the 3rd Division's sector, but heavy resistance had prevented them from advancing. The German position at Vienna Cottage was eliminated, but finally, for lack of support, 47th and 48th Battalions had to retreat to their starting positions. Both battalions lost a total of nearly 1,000 soldiers.
Albert James Gerald Taylor was temporarily buried in close proximity Headquarters, between Dash Crossing and Defy Crossing, near the railroad embankment. Presently he rests in Tyne Cot Cemetery. He was 20 years old.
Connection to other soldiers 1
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William Oakford Jeffrey
Cousin |
Sources 4
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Australian Red Cross Wounded and Missing Enquiry Bureau (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), RCDIG1064166). https://www.awm.gov.au Sources used |
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Deayton Craig , Battle Scarred: the 47th Battalion in the First World War (Newport Big Sky publishing Ltd, 2011).156-188. Sources used |
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First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920 (National Archives of Australia, Canberra (NAA), B2455, Taylor, Albert James Gerald). https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/ Sources used |
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McCarthy, Chris. Passchendaele: The Day by Day Account (Londen: Arms & Armour Press, 2018), 129-132. Sources used |
More information 4
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=b1cef4ae-6b92-4ad4-a95a-356ceb224efb |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/7300743 |
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The AIF Project (UNSW Canberra) https://aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=295246 |
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/464841 |