Taylor, William

Person

Taylor, William

William Taylor was born in Glasgow on 13th August 1895, son of Christine Brown Taylor (née Knight) and William Taylor, a journeyman joiner. Taylor attended The Glasgow School of Art from 1912 to 1915 as an evening student of drawing and painting. As noted in the student registers, Taylor's occupation changed from designer (1912-13), to colourist (1913-14) and finally to carpet colourist (in 1914-15). During 1913 -14, Taylor was awarded £3 bursary and his address at that time was given as 114 North Street, Charing Cross, Glasgow.

During the First World War, Taylor was a Private assigned to the Territorial Force in the 5th Battalion of the Scottish Rifles, and his regiment number was 415913. From the medical inspection form signed by Taylor on 19th January 1916, it seems that he was employed as a woodcarver in Glasgow and his address at that time was given as 38 Phoenix Park Terrace, Glasgow.

Taylor was wounded in action on 25th September 1915; however he re-joined his unit on the 6th of October 1915 and continued his service. William Taylor seemed to serve in the army for over 4 years and 203 days, a much longer period of time than most of the men during the First World War. According to the military records, on 4th September 1918 Taylor's father also joined the army, at the age of 45, and was assigned to the 1st Battalion Army Service Corps (823/18) as a learner driver, guaranteeing him 4th Rate Corps Pay.

It is unclear what happened to William Taylor after the war, even though we know he came back to Glasgow and was awarded the OHMS Medal in March 1922. His death and date place is still unknown. William Taylor is commemorated on The Glasgow School of Art's First World War Roll of Honour.

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Sources: Ancestry http://www.ancestry.co.uk

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