Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Pvt Frederick, No. 994, served with the 40th Btn in France. Enlisting on 24th of February 1916, he said he was 21 and 3 months, however as he was born on 10th September 1897, so he was in fact 19. He was one of three sons to Alfred and Gertrude Taylor who enlisted (the others being Alfred Jr and Edric, see separate entries) and the only one not to survive the war.

The 40th Battalion was the only all-Tasmanian Battalion of WW1 and Tasmania's contribution to the strength of the 3rd Division which was raised in Australia early in 1916. The battalion joined the Victorian-raised 37th, 38th and 39th Battalions to form the 10th Brigade. Training was carried out in Claremont, west of Hobart. The battalion embarked for the Western Front in July 1916 and by December was serving in the trenches in France.

Frederick disembarked in Devonport England on 27th of August 1916. While in England he was charged in October 1916 for not saluting an officer and refusing to do so when ordered and was sentenced to 14 days field punishment (FP) No. 2. This is less punishing as FP No. 1 which consisted of heavy labouring duties, possibly being restrained in handcuffs or fetters, and being tied to a post or wheel. FP No. 2 differed in that the offender was not attached to a fixed object.
For four days in November 1916 (15th-19th) he was AWOL from reveille, earning him another 28 days FP No. 2 as well as forfeiture of 33 day’s pay. The following year on 13th January 1917 he was charged with AWOL from the Tattoo Roll Call (i.e. evening roll call) from back on the 8th of October 2016. For this his punishment was stepped up to FP No 1.

On March 30th 1917, while in the field, he was charged for conduct in prejudice of good order and military discipline in that he used insolent language to a superior officer. His punishment was only to be admonishment.

By June 1917 Frederick was involved in action. The 40th Battalion spent 1917 bogged in bloody trench warfare in Flanders. In June the battalion took part in the battle of Messines (where his brother-in-law Richard Walsh lost his life, see separate entry) and in October the battle for Broodseinde Ridge. Eight days later Frederick was wounded from being gassed in the battle of Passchendaele. He was evacuated out of the front line for a month to Outreau (near Boulogne). On 10th of August 1917, he contracted influenza and again was brought back from the front lines until September 29th. He was back in hospital on the 20th of October due to inflammation of connective tissues in feet. Due to this incapacity, he was classified to permanent base duties from December 28th. He returned to his unit on the 16th of January 1918, and from the 16th of February 1918 he was on leave in England before re-joining the 40th Battalion in France on 9th of March 1918.

The battalion spent much of 1918 fighting in the Somme valley. In March they met the German Spring Offensive at Morlancourt and on the 23rd of that month Frederick was wounded in action, receiving gunshot wounds to his abdomen, arms and thigh. He died a week later in hospital on the 31st of March, 1918, aged 21. He was buried in France at the Doullens Communal Cemetery Extension No 1, Plot VI (6) Row G 47. At the time his father Alfred (55) and Gertrude (49) were living at 5 South St Invermay, Launceston. He nominated is mother as the sole beneficiary of his will, and medals, memorial plaque, and personal effects were delivered to his father.

By Andrew Walsh, great grandnephew, 2023