Franklyn Taylor

Submitted by Mt Kembla Minin... on Thu, 29/09/2016 - 13:58

First Name:

Franklyn

Last Name:

Taylor

Alternate Spelling:

Franklin

Date of Birth:

Monday, October 3, 1892

Mother's Name:

Jane Taylor nee Tressider

Father's Name:

William Taylor

Date Enlisted:

Monday, June 7, 1915

Rank at Enlistment:

Private

Rank at Discharge:

Lance Corporal

Unit:

18th Battalion

Company:

Service:

Infantry

Awards:

Military Medal and Bar

1914/1915 Star

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Place of Death:

Burwood, N.S.W.

Details:

Franklyn Taylor (Service No 2203) was born in Bulli, N.S.W.

At enlistment, Franklyn was single, 22 years old, employed as a carriage builder, and lived in Granville, Sydney.

He embarked from Sydney on HMAT A8 Argyllshire with 4th Reinforcements, 18th Battalion, on 30th September 1915. After the troops arrived in Egypt Franklyn joined C Company, 18th Battalion on 10th January 1916.

Franklyn arrived in France on 25th March 1916 and saw service on the Western Front with 18th Battalion.

On 14th August 1916 he was admitted to hospital sick with pneumonia and did not return to the front until 8th February 1917.

Franklyn was promoted to Lance Corporal on 20th May 1918.

On 9th August 1918 Franklyn was wounded in action and evacuated to hospital in England for treatment of a shrapnel wound to his right knee.

Franklyn was awarded the Military Medal for actions on 7th October 1918 and then a Bar: "Deed for which awarded Bar to MM" (undated). On 17August 1919 Franklyn wrote to the Army requesting that the Bar be forwarded to him and for details as to what the Bar was awarded for!

The citation for his Military Medal reads:

"On approaching the objective, during an attack on 19th instant near MOURLANCOURT, this man noticed an enemy machine gun in advance of the position. The machine gun was firing on and causing casualties to a neighbouring platoon which was being seriously hampered by its fire. Without any hesitation, he, with an N.C.O. charged the machine gun and captured it and one of its crew. The remainder of the crew were either killed or out to flight." Dated 23rd May 1918.

There are two recommendations for a Bar to the Milirary Medal for Franklyn. The citations read:

1 "During the operations against ?ARFUSEE east of AMIENS, on the 8th August 1918 L/Corporal TAYLOR became detached from his platoon in the fog, he observed an enemy machine gun causing casualities to a flank battalion. Without hesitation he rushed it alone, captured the bun and killed or wounded the crew of six"

2 "During the operations on the early morning of 8th August 1918 east of AMIENS, Lce. Cpl. TAYLOR became detached from his Company and Battalion. He was ordered to join a party of another Battalion and whilst with them he did remarkable work. His initiative and dash was responsible for the capture of a machine gun and the team of 1 N.C.O. and 6 men. This gun had been hampering the advance of one platoon and was threatening the flank when Lce. Cpl TAYLOR went forward and took the post. This act and many other smaller ones performed by this N.C.O. materially assisted the advance."

Franklyn was returned to Australia in February 1919 and discharged medically unfit on 2nd June 1919.

Franklyn died at Burwood in 1956.

Sources:

NAA: B2455, TAYLOR F