Private Fred Taylor

 

Fred Taylor was born on 24 July 1896 at Druminiskill, Florencecourt, County Fermanagh, the last of three children of farmer Guy Taylor and his wife Mary Jane (née Moore). His mother died when he was just four years old. At the time of the 1911 Census he was living at Druminiskill with his father, step-mother, brother and three half-siblings. His father died three years later.

Taylor enlisted in the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons Service Squadron on 2 June 1915 (No. UD/260). His brother William Thompson Taylor joined at the same time, or not long before. On 6 October 1915 the squadron, which was then serving as divisional cavalry to the 36th (Ulster) Division, embarked for France. Taylor, however, remained at the squadron's reinforcements depot at Enniskillen.

In April 1917 Taylor was one of ten men of the reserve squadron who transferred to the Machine Gun Corps (Cavalry) (No.105467) – together with around ten from the South Irish Horse. They embarked for France on 24 April.

At some point in 1917 or 1918 Taylor was wounded, resulting in the amputation of his left leg. On 12 December 1919 he was discharged from the army, being 'no longer physically fit for war service' (paragraph 392 (xvi), King's Regulations).

He died on 17 June 1933 at his brother's residence, 19 Hillsborough Parade, Belfast, and was buried in Dundonald Cemetery.

 

This page last updated 5 May 2023.