Ernest Stephen TAYLOUR
Per his military service record (regimental no. 4905), Ernest Stephen Taylour was born at London, England. He gave his age as 37 years and 8 months, his marital status as married, and his occupation as labourer. His description on his medical was height 5 feet 3 inches tall, weight 134 lbs., with a dark complexion, brown eyes, and black hair. His religious denomination was Church of England. He claimed to have no previous military service.
He completed his medical on the 11th November 1915 at Parramatta, and was attested at Parramatta on the 11th November 1915. The Coo-ees had held a recruiting meeting in the Park at Parramatta on the evening of the 10th November, where it was reported that 41 men had offered themselves as recruits.[1]
After completing the Coo-ee March he went to Liverpool Camp as reinforcement for the 13th Battalion. His service record shows he was made Acting Sergeant on 11th November 1915.
He was reported in The Farmer and Settler on 5th January 1916 as being one of the Platoon Sergeants in E company from the “Coo-ees” column, and it was noted that ‘as the “Coo-ees” are reinforcements for a battalion already at the front, and not part of a new battalion, these ranks may be only temporary’.[2]
On his embarkation roll his address at time of enrolment was Farndon, Prospect Road, Wentworthville, N.S.W., and his next of kin is listed his wife, Mrs M. [Miriam] Taylour, Farndon, Prospect Road, Wentworthville, N.S.W.
On 8th March 1916 Acting Sergeant Taylour departed Sydney on the HMAT A15 Star of England, along with many of the other Coo-ees, as part of the 15th reinforcements for the 13th Battalion. He arrived in Egypt on 11th April 1916.
On 19th April 1916 he transferred to the 45th Battalion in Egypt.
On 2nd June 1916 Private Taylour left Alexandria aboard the transport Kinfauns Castle bound for France, arriving at Marseilles on 8th June 1916.
On 7th August 1916 the 45th Battalion was in the front lines in the vicinity of Pozieres, France, when Private Taylour was evacuated from the field suffering shell shock. He was moved back to the 3rd Casualty Clearing Station, then on 8th August 1916 he was moved to the 13th General Hospital at Boulogne, France. On 9th August 1916 he was placed aboard the hospital ship Jan Breydel for evacuation to England.
On 10th August 1916 he was admitted to the St Lukes War Hospital at Halifax, England.
On 9th October 1916 Private Taylour was discharged from hospital and marched into the Number 2 Command Depot at Weymouth, England.
On 2nd November 1916 he was transferred to the Number 4 Command Depot at Wareham, England.
On 12th April 1917 Private Taylour marched out to Number 2 Base Depot at Weymouth.
On 4th May 1917 Private Taylour departed Devonport, England, aboard H.M.A.T. Runic bound for Australia. He arrived in Australia on 6th July 1917, and was discharged Medically Unfit on 14th August 1917.
[1] ‘The procession’, The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate, 13 November 1915, p. 11, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article86101767
[2] ‘Route Marches. Gathering of the Clans. The “Cooees”winning praise in camp’, The Farmer and Settler, 5 January 1916, p. 3, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article116676486
1915 Coo-ee March 