S18515
TAYLOR, Roy Anthony
| Service Number: | 4609 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 32nd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Virginia, South Australia , 5 September 1893 |
| Home Town: | Virginia, Playford, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Virginia Primary School |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Died: | Pneumonia , June 1986, place of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Centennial Park Cemetery, South Australia |
| Memorials: | Virginia District WW1 Roll of Honor |
World War 1 Service
| 16 Dec 1916: | Involvement Private, 4609, 32nd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '17' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Berrima embarkation_ship_number: A35 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 16 Dec 1916: | Embarked Private, 4609, 32nd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Berrima, Adelaide | |
| 11 Nov 1918: | Involvement Private, 4609 | |
| Date unknown: | Involvement 3rd Machine Gun Battalion. |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Xavier Two Wells
Taylor Roy Anthony was born on the 5th of September 1893. While his Attestation Papers state he was born in Virginia other records state he was born in Bowden, Either way he spent his childhood at Virginia and attended Virginia Primary School. His father was John Elim Taylor, and his mother was Ellen Clarke Mudge. They had had 8 children; Florence Emily, Albert John, Winifred Eleanor, Gertrude, Julia, Muriel Lillian, Roy Anthony, Laurel Evelyn and Frank Gordon. Prior to enlistment he worked as a Farmer. He named his farm “Whimple Farm”.
He was 23 years old when he was enlisted into the war 30 September 1916. He was 5 feet 10 and a half inches tall and weighed 158 pounds, he had grey eyes, brown hair and had a fresh complexion. Taylor embarked on the 16th of December 1916 from Australia on the HMAT Berrima. During the journey he was admitted sick to the ship's hospital. Once he arrived in the UK he marched in to the 8th Training Battalion. He was admitted to hospital in Fovant, 13 March 1917 with inflammation of the larynx. Taylor was taken on strength with the 32nd Battalion in June after he recovered.
He then proceeded overseas to France from Southampton London on the 7th of September 1917. he was then appointed to the 23rd Machine Gun Battalion.
On the 4th of April he went on leave till the 14th of April 1918. Again he proceeded on leave on the 6th of October, and he rejoined his unit from leave late on in October 1918. On the 17th of November 1918 he was admitted to hospital with influenza.
Taylor Roy Anthony embarked on “Wahehe” ship from Tilbury England on the 10th of May 1919 arriving back in Adelaide on the 26th of June 1919. He was discharged from the AIF 3rd of June 1919.
He went on to marry Mary Florence Merrifield on the 21st of July in 1920 at Virginia Methodist Church. She was 22 years old, and her father was Thomas Henry Merrifield. Taylor and Florence had 5 daughters and one son together. In 1939 Taylor was a farmer near Virginia and continued through till 1941. By 1943 they had moved to dairy farming at Victor harbor. Taylor Roy Anthony passed away in June of 1986 at the age 92 in Adelaide. His cause of death was pneumonia, and was buried in Centennial Park Cemetery, South Australia.
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