Shaftesbury Grammar School War Memorial

Gerald Bardsley Taylor

Surname: Taylor
Other names: Gerald "Jerry" Bardsley
Other people in this story:
John William Taylor
Ann Mary Taylor née Bardsley
John "Jack" William Taylor
Pryce Taylor
Arnold Bradley Taylor
Locations in this story:
Loughborough, Leicestershire
Bell Foundry House, Freehold Street, Loughborough
Shaftesbury Grammar School, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Nottingham University
Canada
France
Trefcon British Cemetery, Caulaincourt, Aisne, France

Story:
Gerald “Jerry” Bardsley Taylor was born in 1886 in Loughborough, Leicestershire. He was the son of John William Taylor, a Bellfounder, and Ann Mary Bardsley. His siblings included John "Jack" William (born 1885), Pryce Taylor (born 1891) and Arnold Bradley (born 1894). The family lived at Bell Foundry House, Freehold Street, Loughborough. “Jerry” attended Shaftesbury Grammar School from September 1893 to July 1902. He was captain of the cricket and football teams, and was “Champion Athlete” in 1901 and 1902. After leaving the school he entered Nottingham University and then, in 1905 went to Canada, where he remained until the outbreak of the war.

The Shaftesbury Grammar School Magazine reported: “Jerry Taylor enlisted in a Canadian Infantry Battalion (31st Alberta) soon after the war broke out, and went to the front in September, 1915. He soon rose to be a sergeant, and after the Somme offensive in July, 1916, he came home and took a commission in the Leicestershire Regiment.” In 1918 he was allowed to return to Canada to visit his farm for three months. The first fortnight of September was spent in England before he returned to France.

The report continues: “On Sept. 23rd, a neighbouring battalion of the Durham L.I. applied to his regiment for three officers to go “over the top” with them next day. “Jerry” was one of the three selected, and had scarcely crossed the parapet when he was instantaneously killed by machine gun fire. He was a fine all-round sportsman, and after leaving School played regularly for the Loughborough Corinthians F.C. A magnificent figure of a man, full of life and energy, and yet so gentle and affectionate that he was beloved by all. He is the third of his brothers to die in this war, Arnold having been killed in July, 1916, and John in September, 1916, and we offer our very deepest sympathy to his father and family in their terrible losses.”

He died on 24th September 1918 and was buried at the Trefcon British Cemetery, Caulaincourt, Aisne. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals.

As a former pupil his name was recorded on the Shaftesbury Grammar School war memorial, now in Shaftesbury School.  A "First List of Old Shastonians Serving in H.M. Forces" was produced by Shaftesbury Grammar School in September 1915. It shows the regiment in which Gerald served and the date and term in which he left school. Throughout the war a hand-written list was also compiled of Shaftesbury Grammar School old boys serving in the armed forces. An asterix can be seen next to Gerald's name, indicating that he had died. The board is now at Gold Hill Museum.

Printed Sources: 

Shaftesbury Grammar School Magazine, June 1918
Shaftesbury Grammar School Magazine, November 1918
First List of Old Shastonians Serving in H.M. Forces, September 1915

Images:
  • List of Old Shastonians 1
  • List of Old Shastonians 4
  • Shaftesbury Grammar School Old Boys 1
  • Shaftesbury Grammar School Old Boys 7

Links to related web content / sources:
Shastonian
The National Archives
Arnold Bradley Taylor
Pryce Taylor
John William Taylor
List of Old Shastonians 1

Arnold Bradley Taylor

Surname: Taylor
Other names: Arnold Bradley
Other people in this story:
John William Taylor
Ann Mary Taylor née Bardsley
John "Jack" William Taylor
Gerald Bardsley Taylor
Pryce Taylor
Pryce Thomas Taylor
Locations in this story:
Loughborough, Leicestershire
Bell Foundry House, Freehold Street, Loughborough
Shaftesbury Grammar School, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Denstone College, Staffordshire
France & Flanders
Contalmaison, France

Story:
Arnold Bradley Taylor was born in 1894 in Loughborough, Leicestershire. He was the son of John William Taylor, a Bellfounder, and Ann Mary Bardsley. His siblings included John "Jack" William (born 1885), Gerald "Jerry" Bardsley (born 1886) and Pryce Taylor (born 1891). The family lived at Bell Foundry House, Freehold Street, Loughborough. Arnold attended Shaftesbury Grammar School from September 1902 to July 1907. After leaving the school he went to Denstone College, in Staffordshire and then joined the family bell foundry.

It was reported in the Shaftesbury Grammar School Magazine in March 1915 that he had gained a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Leicestershire Regiment. He served in France & Flanders and was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He was killed in action on 11th July 1916 near Contalmaison in France. His death was reported in the Shaftesbury Grammar School magazine: “The brothers Taylor were the nephews of our former Head Master, Mr. Pryce Taylor. Four of them, all sons of Mr. John W. Taylor, of Loughborough, were on active service, and in addition to the two mentioned above, a third (“Pryce”) has since received a bullet wound in the left wrist, and is now in an English Hospital. Arnold Taylor was killed by a heavy shell which burst close to him; he had just come back to the trench after helping to bring in the wounded. A fellow-officer, in a letter to his father, says: “he was the most conscientious subaltern in the company, and his loss will sadly be felt by all of us.” Arnold, with his brother Pryce, last visited the School, Whitsun, 1915.”

As a former pupil his name was recorded on the Shaftesbury Grammar School war memorial, now in Shaftesbury School.  A "First List of Old Shastonians Serving in H.M. Forces" was produced by Shaftesbury Grammar School in September 1915. It shows the regiment in which Arnold served and the date and term in which he left school. Throughout the war a hand-written list was also compiled of Shaftesbury Grammar School old boys serving in the armed forces. An asterix can be seen next to Arnold's name, indicating that he had died. The board is now at Gold Hill Museum.

Printed Sources: 
Shaftesbury Grammar School Magazine, March 1915
Shaftesbury Grammar School Magazine, November 1916
First List of Old Shastonians Serving in H.M. Forces, September 1915

Images:
  • Shaftesbury Grammar School War Memorial
  • Shaftesbury Grammar School Old Boys 1
  • Shaftesbury Grammar School Old Boys 7
  • List of Old Shastonians 4

Links to related web content / sources:
Shastonian
The National Archives
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Gerald Bardsley Taylor
John William Taylor
Pryce Taylor
Farnham War Memorial

Reginald James Wilkins

Surname: Wilkins
Other names: Reginald James
Other people in this story:
George Frank Wilkins
Constance Catherine Emma Wilkins nee Smith
Charles Frank Wilkins
Locations in this story:
Farnham, Dorset
France & Flanders
Vis-en-Artois Memorial, France
Blandford

Story:
Reginald James Wilkins was born in 1899 in Farnham, Dorset. He was the son of George Frank Wilkins, a Baker & Grocer, and Constance Catherine Emma Wilkins (nee Smith). At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, a scholar and living in the family home at Farnham, Blandford, Dorset. His mother died on 4th July 1915. He enlisted in Blandford as a Private in the 6th Battalion of the Leicestershire Regiment (Service No. 42975) and later transferred to the Machine Gun Corps (Service No. 20588). He served in France & Flanders and was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He died on 22nd October 1918 and his name appears on the Vis-en-Artois Memorial in France (Panel 5). He is remembered on the Farnham War Memorial. His brother, Charles Frank Wilkins, also served and survived.

Images:
  • Farnham churchyard

Links to related web content / sources:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives