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George's parents were George Taylor and Laura Maria Turner. George was living at Strathpine and his occupation was a farmer when he enlisted on 8 September 1916 at Brisbane. Left Australia on the same ship, A74 Marathon, as Privates Arthur Wolno/Walno [3016] and Alexander McDonald [2957], both of whom were killed and from the Pine Region. George died of wounds in hospital 17 August 1918 as a result of a gunshot wound. George shows as Robert Taylor on electoral rolls 1915 to 1917 living at Strathpine. Also as R. Taylor on honour board.

TAYLOR George Robert  #3008  49th Battalion

George Taylor was one of three friends from the Strathpine area who enlisted at around the same time. All three, Alex McDonald, Arthur Wolno and George Taylor were of similar age and would appear to have been farming together in the Bald Hills/ Strathpine area before the war. None of the three would survive the war.

George Taylor was born into the farming family of George and Laura Taylor in England. George immigrated to Australia around 1910 at the age of 23. His parents continued to live at Course Hill Farm in Oxfordshire. George enlisted at Adelaide Street in Brisbane on 8th September 1916. He stated that he was 27 years old, a farmer and named his mother Laura as his next of kin.

George and Arthur Wolno reported to Enoggera together on 10th October where they were placed in the 11th Depot Battalion. Their friend Alex McDonald joined them at Bell’s Paddock a few days later and all three were assigned as part of the 7th reinforcements for the 49th Battalion. The reinforcements embarked on the “Marathon” in Brisbane on 29th October. George allotted 3/- of his daily pay to a Commonwealth Bank account in his name. The “Marathon” sailed via Melbourne, Capetown and Sierra Leone arriving in Plymouth on 9th January 1917.

The 49th Battalion, part of the 13th brigade of the 4th Division AIF had been formed in Egypt in January 1916, comprising of Gallipoli veterans transferred from the 9th Battalion and new recruits. The Battalion had seen major action at Mouquet Farm and Neuriel during 1916 before being moved north into Belgium in 1917. When George marched in to the 49th in May, preparations were under way for the attack on Messines in June 1917. In August, George sustained a gun-shot wound to his right forearm which required hospitalisation in the Canadian General Hospital at Boulogne. A period of convalescence followed and he did not rejoin his unit until October, by which time the Passchendaele offensive had ground to a halt in the Flanders mud. The 49th spent the winter of 1917/18 in billets around Poperinghe. George was granted leave to England in February where he no doubt spent some time visiting his parents on their farm.

George returned to the relative quiet of winter quarters on 8th March 1918 but the battalion’s rest would shortly come to an end. On 21st March 1918, the German Commander on the Western Front, Ludendorff, launched Operation Michael which saw a substantial advance along the valley of the Somme from the strongpoint of the Hindenburg Line west towards the city of Amiens. The British 5th Army which had control of this sector was routed and there was a distinct possibility that the French and British Armies would be split and the German advance could reach the French Coast and win the war. In order to halt the rapid advance and plug the gaps left in the British defences General Haig ordered the 3rd and 4th Divisions of the AIF to rush south from Belgium. It was essential that Amiens be defended at all costs and Haig issued his famous “backs to the wall” speech which was read out to the defenders.

The 4th Division initially were transported on double decker buses but as the roads became clogged with refugees fleeing in front of the Bosche, the 12th and 13th Brigades set out on foot, often across farmland. The forced march ended with a gruelling slog in full battle kit through the night to take up positions at Dernacourt on the Ancre River. On 5th April at Dernacourt, the 12th and 13th Brigades faced an estimated two and a half divisions of German storm troopers. The 49th provided mainly a supporting role but did contribute to a most substantial victory when the line was finally secured.

On 10th April, George was pulled out of the line with trench fever (caused by body lice). By the time he returned to his unit a month later, the German advance had been halted at Villers Brettonneux and Amiens was saved. The 49th continued to hold the line in front of Villers Brettonneux while actively patrolling. On 11th June, George was reported to have sustained gun-shot wounds to the chest and abdomen (almost certainly machine gun fire). He passed through a Field Ambulance and Casualty Clearing Station before arriving at the 9th General Hospital at Rouen on the Seine.

In spite of the care given, George Taylor eventually died of his wounds on 17th August 1918. He was buried in the St Sever Cemetery adjacent to the hospital. When George’s name appeared in the casualty lists of the Courier Mail, a Miss H. Davies of Strathpine contacted the authorities in Melbourne to advise that she was in possession of a quantity of personal items that George had left with her for safe keeping in a Gladstone bag and a tin box. George’s mother was also aware of the items in Miss Davies care and she also wrote requesting that the items be returned to her. Included in the bag was a nickel plated revolver, an air rifle, a gold watch , a silver watch and chain and a box of geological specimens. All items were duly delivered to Course Hill Farm at Government expense.

George Taylor is listed on the Strathpine Patriotic League Roll of Honour but it fails to indicate his fate. George Taylor is also listed on the Sandgate Honour Board.