Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

38133 Norman George TAYLOR was born at Bendigo, Victoria, on 29 May 1892 and was enrolled at Mount Gambier High School on 21 January 1907 by his father, Walter H.A. Taylor, carpenter, of Grey Street, Mount Gambier. He left this school on 22 December 1909. He worked for the National Bank in Mount Gambier and during his stay was active in the Presbyterian choir and St Andrew’s Tennis Club, before being transferred to Penola and then Adelaide.

He enlisted in Adelaide on 23 January 1917 (24, bank clerk, single, Presbyterian) naming his father, Walter Homan Alfred Taylor of Francis Street, Mount Gambier, as his next-of-kin, and was hospitalised with influenza from 2 to 11 September 1917, before embarking from Melbourne on the ‘Port Sydney’ on 9 November 1917. He disembarked at Suez on 12 December 1917, embarked again on 18 December 1917 and travelled via Taranto, finally disembarking at Southampton on 5 January 1918.

He was sent to France on 17 July 1918 and joined the 107th Battery of the 7th Field Artillery Brigade on 30 July, with which he served until the armistice. On 8 January 1919 he was detached to Corps Central School and according to a report in the Border Watch he ‘took advantage of the educational training offered to soldiers and went through the accountancy course at Rue, near Abbeville’398 in France, before returning to England in May 1919. He left England on the ‘Main’ for return to Australia on 23 July 1919, the ship apparently being delayed by engine trouble on the way home. He disembarked on 5 October, returned to Mount Gambier in October, and was discharged 6 November.

Published in Ours: the origins and early years of Mount Gambier High School and Old Scholars who served in the Great European War by Graeme Roulstone

By the death of Mr. Norman George Taylor, tubercular soldiers have lost one of their strongest advocates. He died at his home, Carr avenue, Frewville, Adelaide, on Saturday morning, after a long  illness, although his health appeared to have improved recently. He served in the Great War with the 107th Howitzer Battery, and was gassed in France. He developed tubercular trouble after his return  to Australia, and he was one of the founders of the Tubercular Soldiers' Aid Society. As president and secretary of the Tubercular Soldiers' Association, he rendered invaluable service to his fellows, and  was one of their representatives on the executive of the Aid Society. Even in sickness his interest did not slacken, and several times meetings of trustees have been held at his bedside, so that his  counsel might be available. He was a trustee and a life member. Mr. Taylor was born at Bendigo, and was a son of Mr. and Mrs. W. H. A. Taylor, of Mount Gambier. He entered the service of the National  Bank at Mount Gambier, and later was transferred to Penola and to Adelaide. Shortly after his return from the war he resigned from the tbank. He leaves a wife and one child.
Messrs. W. L. P. Taylor (Tarcowie), E.  C. Taylor, and R. R. Taylor (Adelaide) are brothers, and Misses Hilda Taylor, Myra Taylor (Henley), and Olive Taylor (Mount Gambier) are sisters