War Memories of Private George Henry Taylor, Great Granddad of Lisa Gascoigne

George H Taylor was in the 22nd battalion Royal Fusiliers, (Kensington Palls Regiment) and he was sent immediately to the Kensington Palls Battalion.

 

In 1916 round about April time, the Regiment were at Vimy Ridge and at 8 O’clock at night, they were all expected to attack, George was in company B.  8 O’clock came Company B attacked and wondered what was going on as there was nothing and no-one else there.

 

A medic came across them and told them that it had actually been cancelled and had no-one told them.  They had to go back across no man’s land, when they got back, they were actually rewarded with leave for being brave and upholding the honour of the regiment.  That was when my granddad was conceived

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Unfortunately, he went back to France and they went on the first day of the Somme but they were sent to relieve at Delvewood Wood (Known to the soldiers as Dells Wood) and that’s where he received his wounds and trying to track through, although all the papers have disappeared, he would have been taken to a casualty clearing station, (the one with Madonna and child, and if it fell the war would be lost)  George  was sent to Rouen and its there where he died of his injuries.

 

It took Lisa 20 odd years to find him because her granddad’s mum remarried straight after he died, and he was told his father came from Blackburn. So, he didn’t bother looking for him but in actual fact he came Killamarsh.  So, he never knew he had aunties and uncles.

 

Lisa took her mum to visit Rouen Cemetery, they were the first ones from the family ever to visit him. They placed a cross there for him.

 

 

 

 

 

Memories recorded from Lisa Gascoigne at Crystal Peaks History shop, typed up by Linda Staton