LEATHERHEAD WAR MEMORIALS - WWI

Private Archibald Francis (or Fraser) Edward Taylor
C Coy 11 Bn Royal Sussex Regiment

Town Memorial P9.R2.C2

Taken, Not Given, Liam Sumption, L&DLHS

Pte
AFE Taylor
11th Royal
Sussex Regt
France
Oct 21 1916

The Parish magazine issue of December 1917 tells us a little about Archibald Taylor. His second name was Fraser [sic]. However he was not a native of Leatherhead. According to the magazine, his parents had come to Leatherhead at the beginning of the War, and the boy had enlisted at Cobham 1914. He had been missing since 21 October 1916 and his parents had been told that he must now be presumed killed. (1)

The regimental record state that he was born in Watlington, Sussex, confirm his membership of the 11th Battalion and give his regimental number as 50/744 [SD1744].

Notes on sources
1. Parish magazine of St Mary and St Nicholas, Leatherhead issue of December 1917.
2. Soldiers Who Died in the Great War (Royal Sussex) - Imperial War Museum, Lambeth.

N.B. The reference for the War Diary of the 11th Bn. Royal Sussex in the Public Record Office is W0 95–2852.

---

Further research

Private
TAYLOR, ARCHIBALD FRANCIS EDWARD
Service Number SD/744
Died 21/10/1916
Aged 21
"C" Coy. 11th Bn. Royal Sussex Regiment
Son of Edward Charles and Mary Ann Taylor, of 1, Hucks Cottages, 5, Gravel Hill, Leatherhead, Surrey.
Commemorated at THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Location: Somme, France
Cemetery/memorial reference: Pier and Face 7 C.

Archibald has no known grave.

Soldiers Who Died in the Great War, 1914-1919 in fact states he enlisted at Horsham.

11Bn Royal Sussex Regiment War Diary WO 95 2582

Oct 1916 REDOUBT SECTOR
20th Battn relieved the 13th SUSSEX Regt in the REDOUBT SECTOR (Rt Subsection)
Advance party left at 7AM & Main body at 8AM. Casual march to billets at AVELUY & employed in carrying Rations etc to Front line.

21st The Battn capture German First line (STUFF TRENCH)  "B" & "C" Coys [Archibald was in "C" Coy] assaulted "A" & "D" Coys reinforced them in the new line. Heavy casualties were infliceted in the Enenmy & many Prisoners taken.

2nd Lieuts Ivens, Salter & Doogan killed, 2nd Lieut KHB D'winoro & 2nd Lieut PJ Hayes wounded - 11 ORs killed, 186 ORs wounded and 77 OR missing [including Archibald]

22nd AVELUY WOOD The Bttn was relieved & marched to South side of AVELUY WOOD where they bivouaced under shelters & tents.

He is listed in the Roll of those Missing: 744 Pte Taylor AFE  C

Leatherhead Parish Magazine
December 1917

FOR KING AND COUNTRY.

We greatly regret to record the deaths of:

Pte. Henry E. Wheeler, 2/2nd Bn. London Regt. Royal Fusiliers, killed in action in France, Oct. 26th, 1917.
Pte. Archibald Francis Edward Taylor, 11th Royal Sussex Regt. He enlisted at Coolham [Cobham] in 1914 and has been missing since Oct. 21st, 1916. His parents, who came to Letherhead at the beginning of the war, have been informed by the authorities that he must be presumed to have been killed.

We offer our sincerest sympathy to the relatives of these gallant men.

His life

Archibald Taylor was born in 1895 in Whatlington, Sussex.

His father was Edward Charles Taylor born 1855, Battle, Sussex, a son of James Dengate (1833-1910) and Charlotte Elizabeth Taylor (1838-1920).

His mother was Mary Ann Torrence baptised 7 June 1858 in Catsfield, East Sussex, a daughter of Thomas and Sarah Torrence.

Their marriage was registered at Battle, Sussex in Q4 1878.

Archibald's siblings were Eldred born about 1882, Minnie born about 1891, Winnie born about 1893, Beatrice born about 1898 and Eileen born about 1899.

Archibald lived at:
1901 Census: Mayfield Farm, Hollington, Sussex
1911 Census age 16: Ketches Farm Cottages, Furners Green, Fletching Nr Uckfield Sussex: Carter's Boy on the farm.

The press report above states that his parents came to Leatherhead at the beginning of the war and lived at 1, Hucks Cottages, 5, Gravel Hill, Leatherhead. It is not known for sure that he came with them, however since he was named on the Leatherhead Church Lads Memorial and the Ladies War Shrine he may well have done.

After the war
His parents continued living at 1 Hucks Cottages, Gravel Hill Leatherhead, which appears to have been renumbered to 5 Gravel Hill in 1922-23, for the rest of their lives.

Archibald's mother died on 28 July 1838 and hiis father on 5 December 1941. They are buried together in Leatherhead Parish Churchyard:
E475 TAYLOR Edward Charles b1856 d1941 85 05/12/1941
E475 TAYLOR Mary Ann b1857 d1938 81 28/07/1938

Archibald is also remembered on these memorials
Leatherhead Town Memorial
Leatherhead RBL Roll of Honour, Leatherhead Parish Church
Ladies War Shrine, Leatherhead Parish Church
Church Lads Brigade Memorial Tryptich, All Saints Leatherhead
Surrey in the Great War

the website editor would like to add further information on this casualty
e.g. a photo of him, and of any recollections within his family

last updated 11 Aug 20: 1 Jan 21