TAYLOR, Richard Bertram
| Service Number: | 3248 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 20 September 1916, Bendigo, Vic. |
| Last Rank: | Lance Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 46th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Bendigo, Victoria, Australia, 1896 |
| Home Town: | Bendigo, Greater Bendigo, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Bendigo High School, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation: | Home Missionary |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France, 28 April 1918 |
| Cemetery: |
Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery Plot XI, Row C, Grave No. 3 |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Bendigo Great War Roll of Honor, Bendigo St. John's Presbyterian Church Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 20 Sep 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3248, 60th Infantry Battalion, Bendigo, Vic. | |
|---|---|---|
| 16 Dec 1916: | Involvement Private, 3248, 60th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '20' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Medic embarkation_ship_number: A7 public_note: '' | |
| 16 Dec 1916: | Embarked Private, 3248, 60th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Medic, Melbourne | |
| 1 Jul 1917: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 46th Infantry Battalion, Belgium | |
| 26 Sep 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 3248, 46th Infantry Battalion, Polygon Wood | |
| 6 Oct 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 46th Infantry Battalion, Belgium | |
| 12 Oct 1917: | Wounded AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 3248, 46th Infantry Battalion, 1st Passchendaele, GSW to hand. Evacuated to hospital (France). Rejoined unit 7 December 1917. | |
| 5 Apr 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 3248, 46th Infantry Battalion, Dernancourt/Ancre | |
| 28 Apr 1918: | Involvement Lance Corporal, 3248, 46th Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 3248 awm_unit: 46th Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Lance Corporal awm_died_date: 1918-04-28 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Robert Wight
L Cpl 3248 Richard Bertram Taylor was killed in action 28 April 1918 while the 46th Battalion was in the front line holding the position in front of Villers-Bretonneux (source - unit diaries).
Biography contributed by Larna Malone
Richard Bertram Taylor was born in Bendigo, the youngest son of Nicholas and Grace Pascoe Taylor, of 193 Wattle St Bendigo. His father was deceased by the time he enlisted for service. Known as “Bert”, Richard Bertram Taylor had been educated at the Violet Street School and later at the Bendigo High School. He was a Home Missionary, with charge of the Golden Square, Kangaroo Flat and Big Hill Presbyterian churches. He was a Corporal in the 67th Battalion Citizen Force, and he read aloud the names of the seven men recorded on the first St. John’s Honour Roll at the unveiling on 27th June, 1915.
He enlisted on 20.9.16, aged 20 years and 2 months. He was 5’ 8½” in height, with a dark complexion, brown eyes and black hair. He entered the Broadmeadows Depot on 9th October, 1916, and was appointed to the 22nd Battalion. He was sent to No 9 NCO School at Geelong a fortnight later. (25.10.16) He was appointed to the 8th Reinforcements of the 60th Battalion on 8.12.16 and allotted Service No.3248.
‘Bert’ was a lifelong friend of William James Blake. They enlisted in the same month, entered camp together, and attended NCO School together. On 23rd November, 1916, they were farewelled together.
“The action of Cpls W Blake & B Taylor, of the AIF, in offering themselves in the service of the nation, was highly eulogised on Thursday, when their fellow members of St John’s Presbyterian Sunday School assembled to present them each with a fountain pen. The presentation was made by Mr W Wright, superintendent of the Sunday School, at a social held for the purpose in the residence of Mr W Anderson, Mount Korong-road. [Bendigonian. 30 Nov 1916]
He embarked for overseas on 16.12.16, having been appointed Acting Corporal for the duration of the voyage. He disembarked in England on 18.2.17, and joined the 15th Training Battalion at Hurdcott, reverting to the rank of Private. He was appointed Lance Corporal on 6.10.17. He embarked for France on 14.6.17.
He joined the 46th Battalion in Belgium on 1.7.17. At this time the Battalion was stationed at Hill 63, on the Ploegsteert Front, providing fatigues and working parties to the front line. He was appointed Lance Corporal on 6.10.17.
He was Wounded in Action on 12.10.17, sustaining a Gun Shot Wound to his left hand.
The Battalion was the Reserve Battalion during an attack near Zonnebeke, in Belgium, occupied in carrying stores forward and supplying stretcher bearers. He returned from hospital on 7.12.17.
On 27.4.18 the Battalion received orders to move forward to take over the line in front of Villers-Brettonneux, in France. The Germans had taken the village on 24th April, but it had been re- captured on 27th April. The Battalion moved into the front line in the early hours of 28th April, 1918. Richard Bertram Taylor was Killed in Action during the same day. He was buried in the Chalk Pits British Cemetery, located 1½ miles south of Corbie. His body was later re-interred in the Villers-Brettonneux Military Cemetery. (Plot XI Row C Grave 3) Apart from the Rising Sun emblem, denoting Australia, together with his name and unit details, his headstone contains no personal inscription. The prominence is given to a large Cross.
The Bendigo Independent newspaper carried this notice of his character: “Lance-Corporal Taylor was a youth of determination, tempered with reason, and was a fine stamp of Australian manhood. His cheery nature and kindly disposition won for him an enviable place in the circle of his friends. Though young in years he was matured in wisdom. . . ” [Bendigo Independent. 18 May 1918]
“The Men Listed on the Roll of Honor, St John’s Presbyterian Church, Bendigo”: Larna Malone
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