Soldier Record

George Taylor volunteerd for the Army in 1914, when he was 16 years old, and was placed in the "Alice Lupas Cavalry". He was sent in 1915 to Salonika, Greece, where he was transporting supplies, from the dockyard, to Army units further inland. They used camels, horses and mules to pull the supply trailers. He nearly died from malaria, and was sent back to England on a hospital ship. After finally recovering he was transferred to an infantry training unit in Yorshire, where he spent the winter of 1915/ 1916 living in large bell tents. He was posted to France, and after 1st July 1916 was placed with the 5th Battalion, North Staffordshire Regiment. This Battalion had to bury hundreds of dead solidiers after the Somme battle. He took part in trench raids, during the autumn, and had a large scar on his back, after nearly getting caught in the wire. In 1917 this battalion was engaged in street fighting in Lens, where they lost nearly half their Battalion, killed, or wounded or taken prisoner. On 21st March 1918, the Battalion was in the front line at Bullecourt, when the German Ludendorf offensive began. George Taylor was in "A" Company and they fought from 4am untill 4 pm, when all the officers were killed or wounded, only three Sergeants were left, with 30 men and their ammunition was gone. The 16 feet deep trenches had collapsed under shell fire. He was taken prisoner and eventually, together with about 3o other men was made to work as a labourer, unloading railway trucks at Ampsin, near Namur. He just survived this and was brought back to Fulham Military Hospital in November 1918.