A Great War casualty German Spring Offensive Military Medal and Meritorious Service Medal group awarded to Serjeant J.W. Taylor, 25th Divisional Signal Company, Royal Engineers late of the Royal Artillery who saw service on the Western Front from 27th September 1915 before later transferring to the Royal Engineers. He would be awarded the Military Medal in the London Gazette of 12th June 1918 for his work as a messenger at Bapaume on 26th/27th March 1918. He would also be awarded the Meritorious Service Medal in the London Gazette of 17th June 1918. He would later be killed on 28th September 1918 and is now buried in Templeux-Le-Guerard British Cemetery.
Group of 5: Military Medal, GVR, (313146 CPL. J.W. TAYLOR. 25./D.S. COY. R.E.) 1914-1915 Star; (63143 GNR. J.W. WATSON. R.F.A.) British War Medal and Victory Medal; (63143 SJT. J.W. TAYLOR. R.E.) Army Meritorious Service Medal, GVR, (313146 2. CPL. – A. CPL. J.W. TAYLOR. 25/D.S. COY. R.E.)
Condition: court-mounted for display, Nearly Extremely Fine and a rare combination of awards to a combat casualty
John William Taylor was born in 1889, and by the time of the 1901 census he would be living at 13 Manor Fold, Baildon, Yorkshire. His father was a Mason Contractor and ran his own business for which John worked.
At the outbreak of WW1, John Taylor volunteered for active service and enlisted into the Royal Field Artillery in December 1914, and would travel to France on 27th September 1915, his older brother also enlisted and joined the Tank Corps.
At some point during the conflict he would transfer to the 25th Divisional Signal Company, Royal Engineers and would steadily go through the ranks eventually reaching Serjeant. He would receive the Military Medal in the London Gazette of 12th June 1918, this would be for an act of gallantry at Bapaume on 26th/27th March, during the early days of the German Spring Offensive which began on 21st March 1918. He would also receive a Meritorious Service Medal in the London Gazette of 17th June 1918 for his valuable service over a longer period of time.
A unit history covers the events that would lead to the award:
‘The signal communications under the command of Major E. de W. Bradley, M.C. were most effective throughout the fighting; Lieuts Pullan, Reed and Belcher being responsible for the communications of the 7th, 74th, 75th Brigades respectively. The 7th and 74th Brigades maintained almost continuous telephone communications with their Battalions; the 74th by means of the buried route which they themselves had dug a few days before the battle, and the 7th Brigade from their position in the Army Line of defence by cable over ground.
Signal communication of the 75th Brigade was somewhat more difficult, as the Battalions were detached and sent to reinforce troops of other brigades. Sapper Hogarth and Pte Leavey in charge of a Visual Signal Station. Sapper Dingle and Cpl. Taylor as linesmen, also Pte. Milner and Pte. Senior were all conspicuous for their bravery in taking messages to the Battalions of 7th Brigade.
Taylor was killed in action on 28th September 1918 and is now buried in Templeux-Le-Guerard British Cemetery.
