Lives of the First World War

Fred Taylor joined the East Lancashire Regt (Reg No 3xxxx) and completed Basic Training with that unit. He was one of a small draft that were then transferred to 20th King's (Liverpool Regiment) in Flanders

Fred Taylor is also commemorated on the lower section of this framed memorial. The upper section of the Memorial records the names the 27 Members of the Congregation of Bethlehem Unitarian Church, Newchurch-in-Rossendale who gave their lives in the Great War (including another Fred Taylor) . The lower section records the names of the 83 other Members of the Congregation who served and returned (including two Fred Taylors).

Fred was transferred to this unit on the reduction to cadre strength of the 18th Battalion.

Family photo - 1914

Where Fred Taylor was sent for treatment/recovery after being wounded in 1918. (Period Postcard)

3.50 am Zero Hour and the Barrage starts along the whole Fifth Army front. 5.20 am. 17 KLR and 20 KLR in position at Maple Copse and ready to advance through to Green Line. 7.50 am Both battalions advance. 17 KLR on the left and 20 KLR on the right only to find that Blue Line had not fallen with troops of 21 Bde and 90 Bde still pinned down.

“50279. Pte. F. Taylor. Kings L’Pool Regt.”

As awarded to Fred Taylor for service in the Great War (Medal Index Card)

Fred Taylor was attested in the East Lancashire Regiment and called forward for basic training March – May 1917. On graduation, and after the usual period of home leave, he formed part of a small draft that arrived in 30 IDB, Etaples in June 1917. On completion of training there he was posted to 20 KLR/89 Bde which was then deployed in the Ypres area.

Standing L-R: N/K, Benjamin Ball (Haslingden), Ralph Shorrock (Darwen), N/K. Kneeling L-R Fred Taylor (Waterfoot), John Milsom (Haslingden), N/K on Graduation as trained soldiers in the East Lancashire Regiment - May 1917.

On Graduation as a trained soldier - May 1917

The fighting had finished with the Armistice in November 1918 but the war didn’t end officially until the Treaty of Versailles in 1919. So legally, Britain was still at war until the Peace Treaty of Versailles officially concluded hostilities in 1919 – hence 1919 on the British Victory medals and this item confirming the British assumption that hostilities could resume at any time. Several Boroughs issued similar souvenirs but this was the exception rather than the rule. This Rawtenstall Peace Souvenir was given to all Rawtenstall school children under the age of 14 to commemorate the event. This example was given to Fred's daughter Marion. The Bethlehem Unitarian Church calender No 129 of August 1919 (attached) tells us that a bonfire on Seat Naze (a local high point) accompanied the event. Connect photo of the actual "Rawtenstall Peace Souvenir 1919" given to Fred's daughter Marion Taylor.

The fighting had finished with the Armistice in November 1918 but the war didn’t end officially until the Treaty of Versailles in 1919. So legally, Britain was still at war until the Peace Treaty of Versailles officially concluded hostilities in 1919 – hence 1919 on the British Victory medals and this item confirming the British assumption that hostilities could resume at any time. Several Boroughs issued similar souvenirs but this was the exception rather than the rule. This Peace Souvenir was given to all Rawtenstall school children under the age of 14 to commemorate the event. This example was given to Fred's daughter Marion. The Bethlehem Unitarian Church calender No 129 of August 1919 tells us that a bonfire on Seat Naze (a local high point) accompanied the event.

This Peace Souvenir was given to all Rawtenstall school children under the age of 14 to commemorate the event. This example was given to Fred's daughter Marion. The Bethlehem Unitarian Church calender No 129 of August 1919 tells us that a bonfire on Seat Naze (a local high point) accompanied the event.

This brass paper knife belonged to Fred Taylor. It is made from a piece of brass shell case, a German rimless 7.92mm centrefire cartridge case with two German Spitzgeschoß bullet heads attached. (at this time the British cartridge cases were rimmed .303 centrefire design). The badge on the handle is a large British General Service tunic button which all soldiers wore at this time. Similar items are often called “Trench Art” these days but were actually made by French and Belgian entrepreneurs to be sold to troops as souvenirs. Fred would have perhaps acquired this sometime around the disbandment of 20 KLR and before being wounded and evacuated back to Blighty. It is etched “Souvenir d’ Ypres 1918”