Military History

Embarked Fremantle per HMAT ‘Ulysses’ A38 for Egypt 2.11.1915.
Roll Rank Private.
Roll Unit 11th Battalion, 11th Reinf.
Taylor disembarked in Egypt. He was taken on strength from the 11th Reinf. to ’C’ Coy at Tel-el- Kebir from 11th Reinf. 7.1.1916. Following reorganization of the AIF after Gallipoli and in preparation for the Western Front, experienced soldiers were placed with new recruits and the 51st Bn. was created as part of the 13th Bde, 4th Division. Taylor was transferred to the 51st Bn. 29.2.1916. He entrained to Alexandria, joined BEF and embarked per HT ‘Ivernia’ for France 5.6.1916. He disembarked at Marseilles 12.6.1916. The 51st Bn. moved into the trenches on the Somme within a fortnight of disembarkation. The Bns. First major battle was at Mouquet Farm in August 1916. Taylor was appointed L/Cpl. 18.8.1916, then Cpl. 1.12.1916. He was sent to England and marched in to the 13th Training Bn. at Codford where he was appointed permanent Cadre of the Training Bn. 14.7.1917. He was promoted to A/Sg. at Codford 8.9.1917. Taylor rejoined his Unit in France as Cpl. 2.10.1917. He was critically wounded in action 15.10.1917 at Zonnebeke. Taylor was admitted to a Casualty Clearing Station, badly gassed and suffered a compound fracture of his left leg and arm. His left arm was amputated. He was then transferred to the No. 9 Red Cross Hospital/Millicent Sutherland Hospital in Calais, some 36 hours after he was wounded and died of wounds at this hospital 17.10.1917 (West Australian Newspaper 29.10.1917). Taylor was buried at Calais Southern Cemetery, Plot A, Row 2, Grave 8. Today the cemetery is described as Calais Southern Cemetery, Nord Pas de Calais, France.
Final Rank Corporal 51st Bn. AIF.
Medical Condition Deceased, Died of wounds.
Awards and Medals British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Notes Ernest had 2 brothers also in service Benjamin (SN 981) and Harold (SN3872). Both brothers returned.

Photo  Ernest Taylor. Photograph owner Berrisa Brown (nee Taylor)  photograph courtesy  Neil Foley.
            HMAT 'Ulysses'. Photographer P.E.F. Schuler, photograph sourced AWM PS0154
            View from Mouquet Farm area. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from AWM E00201
            Ground around Zonnebeke October 1917. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM E01200
            Calais Southern Cemetery, France. Photographer unknown, photograph source CWGC
            
           
Information Source
AWM PS0154. HMAT 'Ulysses'. Photographer P.E.F. Schuler, photograph sourced  from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM E00201. View from Mouquet Farm area. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM E01200. Ground around Zonnebeke October 1917. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM 11th Bn
AWM 51st Bn.
AWM Embarkation Roll Ernest Taylor
AWM Roll of Honour Ernest Taylor
Berissa Brown (nee Taylor). Ernest Taylor. Photograph reproduced courtesy Neil Foley
CWGC. Calais Southern Cemetery, France. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website, http://www.cwgc.org/find-a-cemetery/cemetery/54000/CALAIS%20SOUTHERN%20CEMETERY
Guildford Primary School Honour Roll
Guildford War Memorial
NAA: B2455, Taylor Ernest
St Matthew’s Honour Roll
St Matthew’s Fallen
West Australian Newspaper
Wise H. and Coy. Western Australian Post Office Directories.SLWA

3 Meadow Street, Guildford, WA.

Associated Images