TAYLOR, John Reed
| Service Number: | 823 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 18 August 1914 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 7th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Rushworth, Victoria, Australia, 1891 |
| Home Town: | Bendigo, Greater Bendigo, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Grocer |
| Died: | Caulfield, Victoria, Australia, 23 February 1949, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: | Bendigo Great War Roll of Honor |
World War 1 Service
| 18 Aug 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 823, 7th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 28 Sep 1914: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 7th Infantry Battalion | |
| 19 Oct 1914: | Involvement Lance Corporal, 823, 7th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '9' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Hororata embarkation_ship_number: A20 public_note: '' | |
| 19 Oct 1914: | Embarked Lance Corporal, 823, 7th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Hororata, Melbourne | |
| 25 Apr 1915: | Wounded AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 823, 7th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli, Gallipoli landings (second wave). GSW to left hand (first finger blown off). Rejoined unit 20 June 1915. | |
| 23 Jun 1915: | Promoted AIF WW1, Sergeant, 7th Infantry Battalion | |
| 16 Jul 1915: | Wounded AIF WW1, Sergeant, 823, 7th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli, Shock and SW arm (buried by shell explosion). Rejoined unit 24 August 1915. | |
| 3 Apr 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Sergeant, Anzac Police, For "light duties" | |
| 17 Sep 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Sergeant, 7th Infantry Battalion, France | |
| 16 Apr 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Private, 7th Infantry Battalion, Demoted to the ranks following GCM 16 April 1917 in France. | |
| 15 Mar 1918: | Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 823, 7th Infantry Battalion, Medically unfit. Nervous debility and bronchitis. |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Robert Wight
Bendigonian, Thursday 10 June 1915 page 24 article:
LANCE-CORPORAL TAYLOR. In a letter from Lance-Corporal Taylor (who was wounded at the Dardanelles), to his mother, Mrs. S. Taylor, of Mundy street, he says: "You will know by now that I have had a bit of bad luck. I had the first finger of my left hand blown off. On our way over we stayed at the island of Lemnos. We landed at the Dardanelles on 25th April last, and, my word, it was terrible. They just poured the fire on to us - shrapnel, and machine guns. They were on a big hill right along the coast. We left the troopship in boats pulled by a tug, and when a couple of hundred yards from the shore we rowed in. A lot were killed or wounded before we got to the shore. Walsh was the only one hit in our boat, and he got a bullet in the arm. We could not get the boots right to the shore, so we jumped into the water. As soon as we got on shore we fixed bayonets and the Turks retreated about two and a half miles. We blazed away all day. Several times we had to charge them. They won't stand up to the bayonet, but don't seem to mind fire.
About 50 of us stayed in a position until 12 o'clock, when there were gradually only about 12 with me as the only N.C.O. A few retreated. I think six were killed and 20 or so wounded. Then we all had to retire until reinforcements came up. It was just as well we did, for three big shrapnel shells burst just where we were. I was lying behind a stump with two other fellows when a shrapnel shell blew the stump to pieces, but none of us received a scratch. I had just got up and was looking round to see what was going on when I got my 'bit of Turkish delight' and of course had to go and get it fixed up. I was sorry to have to leave, but it cannot be helped. Nearly all of our officers were killed or wounded. I expect it will be six weeks before I can get back to the firing line, although my wound is healed up already.
Private Taylor relates, that the people of Cairo are treating the wounded splendidly, giving them cigarettes, fruit and other things.