TAYLOR, Sydney

Sydney Taylor was the son of Emmanuel and Fanny Taylor of 77 Crosswalks, Lye. He married Amy and they were living in1915 at Siviters Lane, Rowley Regis. He had enlisted in the Worcesters before 1914 and it is likely that he was called up in 1914 from the Reserve to rejoin the 2nd Battalion. He was probably engaged in the Retreat from Mons, the battle of the Aisne and at Gheluvelt in the First Battle of Ypres. The battalion was at Festubert in the Artois Spring battles of 1915 and then fought at Loos in September. This was the heaviest attack to that date for the British army. On the 25th the Worcesters remained behind the main advance. On the next day they were ordered to lead the defence against a German counter-attack on The Quarries. There was little preparation for the men and the action was an expensive failure. Half of the battalion were casualties and among the dead was Lance Corporal Sydney Taylor. He was 28 years of age and is commemorated on the Loos, Lye and Wollescote and Lye church Memorials.