The Kirstead Taylors Part 1

 

The Kirstead Taylors

A Newspaper cutting 'Kirstead Family Don Khaki', a captioned photograph montage of the six Taylor brothers in uniform, the sons of Mrs. Mary Ann Taylor and the late James Taylor of 42 Kirstead Ling, Brooke, Norwich. Three of the brothers were killed in June - July 1916, and are remembered on the Kirstead Green War Memorial.

James Taylor (1844-1915) married Mary Ann Powles (1856-1927) in 1875.  Over the course of their 40 year marriage, they had sixteen children.  Unfortunately, two of their children died very young or soon after being born.  These are the known children of James Taylor and Mary Ann Powles:

      1.       Ann Maria Taylor (1875-1952), mother of Samuel Thomas Taylor, born 1891.  Later married Charles Alfred Buck in 1901.
2.       James Taylor (1877-1877), died soon after birth.
3.       James Christopher John Taylor (1878-1950), married Helen Mary Forster (1869-1915) in 1905.  After Mary Helen died, he then married Gertrude Emma Lane in 1919.
4.       Herbert Ephraim Taylor (1879-1960), married Lily Beatrice Steer in 1905.
5.       John Thomas Taylor (1881-    ).
6.       George Alfred Taylor (1883-1916), died in France and remembered on Thiepval Memorial.
7.       Walter Christmas Taylor (1885-1954), married Ida Elizabeth Bumfrey.
8.       Mary Ann Taylor (1886-    ).
9.       Albert William Taylor (1888-1916), died in France, Nord-Pas-de-Calais.
10.   Margaret Florence Taylor (1889-1927), married George Henry Graves in 1912.
11.   Rosa Jane Taylor (1892-1944), married Edward Green Riseborough in 1914.
12.   Ernest Edward Taylor (1893-1916), died in France, Nord-Pas-de-Calais.
13.   Thirza Jane Taylor (1895-1967), married Harry Cook Nobbs in 1921.
14.   Christiana “Chrissie” Taylor (1897-    ).
15.   Oliver Cyril Last Taylor (1899-1978), married Alice Maud Fuller in 1923.

By 1891, Ann Maria was already working as a domestic servant at the age of fifteen and James Christopher (13) and his younger brother, Herbert (11) were working on a farm. 

On March 8, 1891 young Ann Maria had given birth to a son, Samuel Thomas Taylor.  Being too young to care for and support her child, Samuel was raised by his grandparents.   When Ann Maria married Charles Alfred Buck in 1901, young Samuel was not a part of their household.  At no time did any of the census reports show Samuel living with his mother and her family.  Instead, he was raised as one of the Taylor boys.

 The Taylor family was living in Kirstead, Norfolk, England   in 1915.  But on December 30, 1915, James Taylor died,   leaving Mary Ann Powles as the head of household.  By that   time, her youngest child, Oliver Cyril Last was nearly 17   years of age.

  There is a headstone in the churchyard which reads:

In Loving Memory of My Dear Husband

James Taylor

Died Dec 30th 1915

Aged 69

Thy Will be Done

_______

Killed in Action in France

Albert Taylor June 4th

Ernest Taylor June 21st

George Taylor July 19th

1916

_______

Also Mary Ann wife of the Above

Died Febr 2nd 1927

Aged 70 years

World War I Begins

By 1914, World War I had begun and Britain mobilized the population to prepare for war.  All eight of the Taylor boys were old enough to join in the fight and they all served, with the exception of John Thomas Taylor, at some point in the war.  In addition, Ann Maria’s son, Samuel, enlisted along with the rest of the Taylor boys.

These are the remarkable stories of the Taylor boys as told through available records:

James Christopher John Taylor enrolled in the Naval Reserve on September 29, 1915 and served until March 31, 1919.  Although his service record is available, we know so little about what James Christopher John did during his years of naval service.  Having worked from a young age as a farmer’s boy and then later as an agricultural laborer, he was only provided the most rudimentary education early in life.  But the Royal Navy was offering him an opportunity to serve his country while learning a new trade. 

While serving in the navy, he was a good seaman.  He earned distinction in 1917 while serving as a deckhand during the Battle of the Strait of Otranto.  By September 28, 1918, he had earned his first Good Conduct Badge.  Upon demobilization from the Royal Navy on March 31, 1919, his character was rated “Satisfactory” for his ability and “Very Good” in conduct.

The 1917 Battle of the Strait of Otranto

The 1917 Battle of the Strait of Otranto was the result of an Austro-Hungarian raid on the Otranto Barrage, an Allied naval blockade of the Strait of Otranto. The blockade was conducted by lightly armed former fishing drifters laying and monitoring submarine nets with larger Allied Naval ships in support. The Austro-Hungarian Navy raided the Otranto Barrage with a force of three light cruisers, plus diversionary forces and submarines in support. It was an attempt to break the barrier to allow U-boats freer access to the Mediterranean, and Allied shipping.

The three Austro-Hungarian cruisers: Novara, Saida, and Helgoland, modified to resemble large British destroyers, were to attack the drifters on the night of 14 May and attempt to destroy as many as possible before daybreak. Three Allied Navies were operating in the area, the Italian, French and British, an Italian convoy was sunk by the diversionary destroyers and the cruisers at 03:30 began attacking the small barrage ships.

The Austro-Hungarians frequently gave the drifter crews warning to abandon ship before opening fire. In some instances, the drifter crews chose to fight, the "Gowan Lea" returned fire on the Austro-Hungarian ships. The ship was heavily damaged, but remained afloat; her skipper, Joseph Watt, was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions during the battle.

There were 47 drifters in Barrage on the night of 14 May; the Austro-Hungarians managed to sink 14 drifters and damage four more.

After the raid the Austro-Hungarian Cruisers were pursued by the Allies, HMS Dartmouth traded shots and caused damage but was torpedoed by a U-boat. The French destroyer Boutefeu was sunk by a mine while in pursuit. 

The following Admiralty Despatch from August 28, 1917 was published in the London Gazette on August 29, 1917 and lists those men whose actions during the battle of the Strait of Otranto displayed heroism and gallantry.  This list was abbreviated to display those names of particular mention who were awarded gallantry medals and those who were mentioned in despatches for special distinction.  Among those mentioned, the name of deckhand James Christopher John Taylor, husband of Helen Mary Forster has been highlighted.  Although not much is known about his actions during the battle, it was sufficient distinction to be mentioned in despatches.  The stories of heroism were left to be told among the families of the survivors.

 

30258 - 28 AUGUST 1917

Admiralty, 29th August, 1917.

Honours for Service in the Action in the Straits of Otranto on the 15th May, 1917. 

 The KING (is) pleased to approve of the award of the Victoria Cross to the undermentioned officer:

Skipper Joseph Watt, R.N.R., 1206 W.S.A. For most conspicuous gallantry when the Allied Drifter line in the Straits of Otranto was attacked by Austrian light cruisers on the morning of the ]5th May, 1917. When hailed by an Austrian cruiser at about 100 yards range and ordered to stop and abandon his drifter the "Gowan Lea," Skipper Watt ordered full speed ahead and called upon his crew to give three cheers and fight to the finish. The cruiser was then engaged, but after one round had been fired, a shot from the enemy disabled the breech of the drifter's gun. The gun's crew, however, stuck to the gun, endeavouring to make it work, being under heavy fire all the time. After the cruiser had passed on Skipper Watt took the "Gowan Lea" alongside the badly-damaged drifter "Floandi" and assisted to remove the dead and wounded.

_____

Chancery of the Order of Saint Michael and Saint George,

The KING (is) pleased to give directions for the following appointment to the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George:

To be an Additional Member of the Third Class, or Companions, of the said Most Distinguished Order:

Capt. Albert Percy Addison, R.N. In recognition of his services in command of H.M.S. "Dartmouth" during the pursuit of and running fight with Austrian cruisers, which had attacked the Allied drifter line in the Straits of Otranto on the 15th May, 1917, and especially for his excellent judgment and work in bringing his ship safely into port, when she had been torpedoed by an enemy submarine on. her passage back, after the cruiser action was over.

________

Admiralty, 29th August, 1917.

The KING has further been graciously pleased to give orders for the following appointments to the Distinguished Service Order and for the award of the decorations and medals specified below to the undermentioned officers and men in recognition of their services in the action in the Straits of Otranto on the 15th May, 1917:

The following officers and men were mentioned in Despatches:

Cdr. DouglasWilliam O'Bryen Forsyth, R.N.
Cdr. Robert Gerald Fane, R.N. (killed in action).
Engr. Cdr. Ernest Edward Bartlett, R.N.
Lieut. George Reuben Barling, R.N.R. (killed in action).
Chief Skipper Harold John Goldspink, D.S.C, R.N.R., 1937 W.S.A.
Skipper Walter Henry Chaney, R.N.R., 1242 S.A.
Skipper Frank Hutchings, R.N.R., 1305 W.S.A.
Skipper George Thain, R.N.R., 1074 W.S.A.
Skipper Ephraim Elijah Snowling, R.N.R., 1962 W.S.A.
Ord. Teleg. Douglas Morris Harris, R.N.V.R., O.N. Z9359 (Bristol) (killed in action).
2nd Hnd. Adam Gordon, R.N.R., 3945 DA. (killed in action).
Trmr. George Craig, R.N.R., O.N. 3018 TS. (killed in action).
2nd Hnd. John Stephen, R.N.R., O.N. 3685 DA.
2nd Hnd. Alexander Findlay, R.N.R., O.N. 5184 DA
Dkhnd. James Christopher John Taylor, R.N.R., O.N. 8912 DA.
Dkhnd. William Henry Adams, R.N.R., O.N. 3652 SD.
Engmn. John Sim, R.N.R., O.N. 3378 ES.
Dknnd. James Boulton, R.N.R., O.N. 15230 DA.
Engmn. John Edwin Cooper, R.N.R., O.N. 871 DA.
Engmn. Thomas Anderson, R.N.R., O.N. 2178 ES.
Trmr. Thomas Leggat, R.N.R., O.N. 4288 TS.
2nd Hnd. Alexander Smith, R.N.R., O.N. 1857 SA.
Dkhnd. Edwin Goldsmith Hitter, R.N.R., O.N. 8077 DA.
Sto. P.O. Arthur Egglishaw, O.N. 295126 (R.F.R., Ch,/B6423).
Ch. Shipwt. George Henry Sly, O.N. 342641 (Dev.).
A.B. Thomas Richardson, O.N. J12188 (Dev.).
Sto., 1st Cl., Albert Hargreaves, O.N. 232134 (Dev.).
Shipwt., 1st Cl., Edwy John Forse, O.N. 344049 (Po.).
Sto. P.O. William Joyce, O.N. 311080 (Po.).
Sto., 1st Cl., James Ewart Maplesden, O.N. K23040 (Po.).
Lce.-Corpl. Alfred Gee, R.M.L.I., No. Po. 14933.