Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

John Taylor # 3604 4th Pioneers / 49th Battalion

John Taylor reported for enlistment in the AIF in Brisbane on 8th November 1916. He stated his age as 44 years. Enlistments at that time were restricted to men between the ages of 18 and 45 and it is possible that John lied about his age to make the cut off. John gave his occupation as timber worker and gave his address as c/- GPO Brisbane. He named his brother, Winterbottom, of Millbong near Boonah as his next of kin. John also revealed that he had previously been denied enlistment due to a medical issue.

In the last months of 1916, the AIF was desperate for reinforcements after suffering enormous casualties on the Somme during July, August and September. Recruiting standards were relaxed and a plebiscite which failed to gain the required majority was held to seek approval for overseas conscription. These factors probably influenced John’s acceptance into the AIF, as well as hastening his departure for overseas.

John Taylor boarded the “Ayrshire” in Sydney on 24th January 1917 and disembarked in Devonport, UK on 12th April. John had originally been allocated to a Pioneer Battalion but while in camp at Fovant he was transferred to an infantry battalion; the 49th.

In August, John took a cross channel ferry from Folkestone to France and by 25th August he was taken on strength by the 49th Battalion which was resting in the rear areas. The battalion continued to engage in training and sports for the first weeks of September before moving up to the staging areas around Ypres prior to moving up to the line. The 49th went into action on Westhoek Ridge on 27th September. The battalion war diary records a thoroughly successful operation supported by artillery barrage and aircraft spotting. The battalion had gone into the line with almost 930 men of all ranks and during the action of 27th/29th recorded 25 ordinary ranks killed and 82 wounded.

John Taylor was one of the 25 killed. He had only been with his battalion a month and Westhoek Ridge was his first taste of action. It is quite likely that his inexperience of battle contributed to his death. His records state simply “buried” but even if that was the case, the battlefields of Flanders would continue to be churned up for another 14 months, obliterating any isolated or temporary grave.

John Taylor is commemorated on the stone tablets of the Menin Gate Memorial in Ypres. He is listed alongside 50,000 soldiers of British Empire who perished in Flanders and have no known grave. The citizens of Ypres each evening conduct a remembrance ceremony under the arch of the Menin Gate to honour their sacrifice.

When the authorities attempted to dispose of John’s medals and commemorative plaque there was no reply from John’s next of kin, his brother Winterbottom. Eventually the local Military authorities in Brisbane received advice that Winterbottom was now an invalid living with his sister and brother-in law at Millbong. According to John Taylor’s records in the National Archives, the medals, plaque and scroll were never claimed, although some family member has had John’s name added to the Roll of Honour at Boonah.