TAYLOR, John Edward

John Taylor was the son of David Taylor of 42 Two Gates, Cradley and was married to Mary Ann. He volunteered for the Worcesters and joined the 10th (Service) Battalion who served on the Somme in 1916 and in the Third Battle of Ypres in 1917. In the Spring of 1918 the Worcesters were situated near Bapaume and represented the second line of defence against the first of the German Spring offensives. This started on the 21st March with the Battle of St. Quentin and within three days the German attack had reached the old Somme battlefield. The casualties were high. Some were taken prisoner as well as being wounded. Private John Taylor was one of these. He was taken to a prisoner of war camp in Germany where he died on the 28th October. He was 28 years of age is buried at Cologne Southern Cemetery (XIV G 24) and commemorated on the Cradley and Halesowen Memorials.