Thursday 14 May 2015

Taylor, John James - Private (27117)

Pte John James Taylor
2nd Battalion,
East Lancashire Regiment
Killed in Action,
1st August 1917
Age 25

Commemorated at Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.

The great services to the choir of Laneside Church, Haslingden, by Private John James Taylor, East Lancashire Regiment, who was fatally sniped in action on August 1st, 1917, were referred to on Sunday night by the vicar (the Rev J. Dodd).  The deceased was 25 years of age, had been a winding-master at Lockgate Mill, and his wife lives at 306, Manchester Road, Haslingden.  The vicar said his long acquaintance with the deceased began when the latter was a child in his mother's arms.  He passed through the Sunday school, and was afterwards for many years a member of the choir, while for anything that was organised for the benefit of the church and the school he was always willing and ready to do what he could.
In the school entertainments and in the choir he was very noticeable, and he had a fine bass voice.  It would be understood that his death was a great loss to the choir, and the other members of the choir who were with the colours were also much missed.  The deceased's father who is a tackler at Ewood Bridge Mill, and who lives at 13 North Street, Haslingden, was a member of the choir before his son, and he sang in it till quite recently.  As illustrating Holy Writ which says "God moves in mysterious ways His wonders to perform," the vicar said that a short time ago the deceased's mother passed away, and that it seemed to be a blessing in disguise that she was spared to hear of her son's death, as the blow would have killed her, such was the delicate state of her health.

WINDING MASTER SNIPED
SAD NEWS FOR MRS J.J. TAYLOR OF MANCHESTER ROAD, HASLINGDEN

Private John James Taylor, East Lancashire Regiment, was fatally sniped in action on August 1st, 1917.
Aged 25, he was a winding master at Lockgate Mill, and his wife resides at 306, Manchester Road, Haslingden.
He was connected with Laneside Church and Sunday School, and on Sunday the vicar (Rev James Dodd) referred to the death of Private Taylor, which had been reported by a second-lieutenant, and said that the deceased was one of their best scholars.
The father of the young man is a tackler at Ewood Bridge Mill, and lives at 13 North Street, Haslingden.

Newspaper Memorial:

In loving memory of my dear Husband, Private John James Taylor, East Lancashire Regt., who was killed in action in France, July 31st 1917.

"The happy hours we once enjoyed,
How sweet the memory clings;
No morning dawns, no night returns,
But what I think of him.

Days of sadness now come o'er me
Tears in silence often flow,
As I think of you, dear husband,
O, I miss you more and more".

Sadly missed by his loving Wife, Mother, and Brother-in-law (in India), 306 Manchester Road.