492 Private Arthur James Taylor

Introduction

The following information and chronological table are a summary of the entries from the service record of Arthur James Taylor.

This picture taken 3 December 1921

Note that some of the service record pages are duplicated - presumably when the unit and Army records were amalgamated on discharge.

Clive Mitchell-Taylor - 22 October 1996 - grandson of Arthur Taylor

Download Arthur Taylor's Service Record.

Enlistment Details

Service Number	492
Name	Arthur James Taylor
Born at	Bristol, County of Somerset, England
Date of Birth	20 years 8 months in June 1915
Trade or Calling	Hairdresser(apprenticed for 3 years)
Marital Status	Single
Next of Kin	Father - Mr R. Taylor Clifton Bristol [address afterwards amended to 10 South Terrace, Redland, Bristol, England]
Previous Military Service	Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve, 3 Years, time expired
Attested at	HMT Ascaneous (A11) at sea
Date of Enlistment	23 June 1915
Height	5 foot 7 inches
Weight	158 pounds
Chest	36-38 inches
Eyes	Brown
Hair	Dark Brown
Religious Denomination	Church of England
Units	26^th Battalion, 5^th Brigade

Chronological Events

Rank	Description	Date	Remarks
Private	Enlisted	23 Jun 1915
Private	Embarked from Australia on HMT Ascaneous	29 Jun 1915
		Jul 1915	2^nd Division Australian Imperial Force (AIF) formed in Egypt, including 26^th Battalion, 7^th Infantry Brigade
Private	Embarked for Gallipoli	Aug 1915
Private	Transferred to Base Details	3 Sep 1915
Private	Chancre - admitted 1st Australian Stationary Hospital, Lemnos	8 Sep 1915
Private	Transferred from 1 Aust Stationary Hospital Lemnos to Convalescent Camp	15 Oct 1915
Private	Returned to Anzac from Lemnos, total period of ineffective service due to VD - 44 days	22 Oct 1915
Private	Withdrawn from Gallipoli	Dec 1915
Private	Disembarked Ex Mudros at Alexandria	9 Jan 1916
Private	Offence - Tel-el-Kebir. Absent Without Leave 2115 hrs 16 Jan 1916 to 2100 hrs 19 Jan 1916 Award - 168 hrs Field Punishment No 2	19 Jan 1916
Private	Offence - Moascar Absent from Fatigue Work Award - 48 hrs Field Punishment No 2	4 Mar 1916
Private	Proceed to join British Expeditionary Force - Alexandria	15 Mar 1916
Private	Disembarked ex Alexandria - to Armentieres	21 Mar 1916
Private	Offence - L'Hallobean France Absent Without Leave from 1000 hrs 6 Apr 1916 to 2030 hrs 6 Apr 1916 Award - Admonished - Forfeiture of one day's pay	7 Apr 1916
Private	Took part in raid on enemy trenches on night 6/7 June 1916	6/7 Jun 1916
		27 July 1916	2^nd Division relieved 1^st Division at Poziers. Pozieres captured during subsequent fighting
Private	Admitted to 44th Casualty Clearing Station and transferred to Ambulance train	29 Jul 1916	10,843 wounded in this month
Private	Admitted to 1st Field Ambulance and transferred to 6th Motor Ambulance Corps	29 Jul 1916
Private	Wounded in action. Gunshot wound to leg. Admitted to No 1 Can(adian?) General Hospital, Etaples France	29 Jul 1916
Private	Transferred to No 6 Convalescence Depot	10 Aug 1916
Private	Admitted to 2nd Division Base Depot Etaples	12 Aug 1916
Private	Offence - 2nd Aust Division Base Depot, Etaples France Out of Bounds and Refusing to Comply with Orders of Camp Police Award - 7 days Confined to Barracks	15 Aug 1916
Private	Returned to Unit from Hospital	21 Aug 1916
		Aug 1916	2^nd Div to Somme
Private	Offence - France In the Field, Neglecting to Obey and Order, France Award - 72 hours Field Punishment No 2	24 Sep 1916
Private	Wounded in Action - France. Gunshot wound, right hand.	14 Nov 1916	2^nd Div Second tour of duty on Somme. 2,952 wounded this month
Private	Admitted to 5th Australian Field Ambulance and transferred to Casualty Clearing Station	14 Nov 1916
Private	Admitted to 36th Casualty Clearing Station and transferred to Ambulance train	14 Nov 1916
Private	Admitted No 3 Stationary Hospital - Rouen France	14 Nov 1916
Private	Invalided to England from Havre	18 Nov 1916
Private	Embarked on HS Carisbrooke Castle at Havre for England	19 Nov 1916
Private	Admitted 4th Southern General Hospital, England	20 Nov 1916
Private	Transferred to 2nd Auxilliary Hospital, England	11 Dec 1916
Private	Marched in to Aust Convalescent Depot, Weymouth, from Southall	14 Dec 1916
Private	Marched in from furlough - Wareham England	24 Jan 1917
Private	Offence - Wareham England Absent Without Leave 1500 hrs 2 Feb 1917 to 1330 hrs on 3 Feb 1917 Award 7 days Confined to Barracks, forfeit 2 day's pay	6 Feb 1917
Private	Taken on Strength - 69th Battalion, England	23 Mar 1917
Private	Offence - Southall England Absent Without Leave 2130 hrs 16 Apr 1917 to 0700 hrs 17 Apr 1917, Absent from Parade Ordered by his CO 1400 hrs 17 Apr 1917 Absent Without Leave 2130 hrs 17 Apr 1917 to 2145 hrs 18 Apr 1917 Award - 48 hrs Detention, forfeiture of 6 day's pay	20 April 1917
Private	Offence - Wareham England Absent without Leave 1200 hrs 19 May 1917 to 1045 hrs 22 May 1917 Award - 168 hours Detention, forfeiture of 11 days pay	23 May 1917
Private	Offence - Wareham England Neglecting to Obey Brigade Standing Orders (out of bounds) Award - Forfeiture of one day's pay	5 Jun 1917
Private	Reported sick to 16 Field Ambulance with VD	5 Jun 1917
Private	Admitted to 16 Field Ambulance	5 Jun 1917
Private	Admitted to 1 Australian Dermatological Hospital, Bulford England	6 Jun 1917
Private	Discharged from 1 ADH, Bulford England Total period of ineffective service due to VD, 43 days	18 Aug 1917
Private	Marched in from 1 ADH to H'cott	24 Aug 1917
Private	Reported sick to 16 Field Ambulance	4 Sep 1917
Private	Transferred to 26th Battalion on Marching out from 69th Draft Battalion	19 Sep 1917
Private	Offence - Heurdcott (?) England Absent Without Leave 0800 7 Oct 17 to 1400 hrs 15 Oct 1917 Travelling by Train Without a Pass, Award - 9 Days Field Punishment No 2 In custody 1 day awaiting trial Forfeiture of 19 days pay	16 Oct 1917
Private	March out to Overseas T(raining?) Brigade	19 Oct 1917
Private	March in from 69th Draft Battalion to Leithbridge	19 Oct 1917
Private	Offence - Sandhill England Absent without Leave 0900 14 Jan 1918 to 2200 hrs 14 Jan 1918 Award - Admonishment Forfeit 1 days pay	15 Jan 1918
Private	Offence - Sandhill England Absent Without Leave 2400 hrs 10 Feb 1918 to 2130 hrs on 18 Feb 1918 Award - 24 days Field Punishment No2 Forfeiture of 32 days pay	19 Feb 1918
Private	Offence - Sandhill England Absent Without Leave 0830 hrs 11 Mar 1918 to 2130 hrs on 14 Mar 1918 Award - 8 days Field Punishment No 2 In custody awaiting trial 2 days Forfeiture of 15 days pay	18 Mar 1918
Private	Proceed Overseas to France ex Leithbridge, Deverill via Southampton	20 Mar 1918
Private	Admitted from England - Havre	21 Mar 1918
Private	Proceeded to join unit - Havre	23 Mar1918
Private	Taken on strength - Belgium	25 Mar 1918
		15 Apr 1918	German counter-attack L'agincourt
Private	Wounded in Action - France Shrapnel wound, finger left hand	16 Apr 1918	4,218 wounded in this month
Private	Admitted 6th Australian Field Ambulance and transferred to Casualty Clearing Station	16 Apr 1918
Private	Admitted to 20th Casualty Clearing Station and transferred to Abbeville	17 Apr 1918
Private	Admitted to 3rd Australian General Hospital Abbeville	17 Apr 1918
Private	To AT 19 (?)	22 Apr 1918
Private	Embarked for England on HS "Pieter de Cominck"	23 Apr 1918
Private	Admitted Central Military Hospital Fort Pitt, Chatham	23 Apr 1918
Private	Transferred to 3rd Aux Hospital Darford	14 May 1918
Private	Furlough - 16 May 1918 to 30 May 1918	16 May 1918
Private	Offence - London Absent without Leave 1100 hrs 30 May 1918 to 1500 hrs 30 May 1918 Award - Forfeit 1 day's pay Sent to 4 Convalescent Depot	31 May 1918
Private	Sick - admitted Camp Isolation Hosp (Scabies)	30 Jun 1918
Private	Offence - Hurdcott Absent Without Leave 1000 hrs 30 Jul 1918 to 1730 hrs 3 Aug 1918 Award - Dismissed	10 Aug 1918
Private	Transferred from 4th Convalescence Depot to Overseas Training Brigade	16 Sep 1918
Private	Proceeded Overseas France via Southampton	12 Oct 1918
Private	Admitted from England	13 Oct 1918
Private	Proceeded to join unit	15 Oct 1918
Private	Rejoined Battalion - Broodeseinde ?	16 Oct 1918
Private	Proceeded to (Divisional Reserve Wing?) for return to Australia	21 Dec 1918
Private	Proceed to AGBD ex DR Wing for Aust	29 Dec 1918
Private	March in from AGBD France for Return to Australia	2 Jan 1919
Private	Disembarked Southampton ex France to report to Hurdcott (1915 Personnel)	3 Jan 1919
Private	Returned to Australia per HMT Kashmir	9 Apr 1919
Private	Discharged 1st Military District	2 Jul 1919

Medals awarded:

1914-1915 Star
British War Medal 1914-1920
Victory Medal

Dress Embellishments:

Wound Stripes for ,
29 Jul 1916
14 Nov 1916
16 Apr 1918
Long Service Stripes forfeited
Five Overseas Service Chevrons

Rising Sun Badge used by the 1st and 2nd AIF

Shoulder Patch (2in by 2in) of the
26th Bn of the 7th Australian Infantry Brigade
Promulgated in Second Australian Division Instruction dated 3 August 1915

The brass letter 'A' to represent service related to Gallipoli (ANZAC) was authorised to be worn 'over unit colour patches on both sleeves of the service dress jacket and greatcoat" by Military Order 354 of 18 Aug 17 and AIF Order 937 of 6 Nov 17, as amended in terms of qualification by Military Order 20 of 19 Jan 18 and by AIF Order 1084 of 25 Jan 18. The size of the letter 'A', introduced as one inch in height (AIF Order 994 of 30 Nov 17), was reduced to three-quarters of an inch by AIF Order 1012 of 11 Dec 17. Provision for wearing the brass letter 'A' was also included in General Routine Order 0.815 of 17 Dec 43 and GRO 310 of 7 Dec 45.

Original World War One medal set (approximately actual size)

Download the 1.4Mb Service Record (Adobe PDF format)

The 1914 infantry battalion was a large unit, composed of eight rifle companies each of 3 officers and 116 other ranks armed with Short Magazine Lee-Enfield .303 rifles, a small headquarters with 4 officers and 21 other ranks and a machine gun section with two .303 Maxim machine guns, one officer and 17 other ranks, a total of 32 officers and 991 other ranks. In December 1914, battalions were reorganised into four companies each of four platoons, but strength was unchanged. By mid 1918, the number of officers had increased to 38 but the number of other ranks had declined to 900. At the same time, the firepower of the battalion was greatly augmented with hand and rifle grenades and Lewis Guns, of which there was 34 per battalion.

26th Infantry Battalion (Queensland and Tasmania) [7th Infantry Brigade]
Formed Queensland April 1915. Departed Brisbane Aeneas 29 June 1915 and Ascanius 24 May 1915. 1st Reinforcements departed Brisbane Aeneas 29 June 1915 and Melbourne Orsova 17 September 1915, 2nd Reinforcements departed Sydney Shropshire 20 August 1915 and Brisbane Kyarra 16 August 1915, 3rd Reinforcements departed Melbourne Makarini 10 September 1915 and Brisbane Armadale 20 September 1915, 4th Reinforcements departed Melbourne Hororata 27 September 1915, 5th Reinforcements departed Brisbane Warilda 5 October 1915, 6th Reinforcements departed Brisbane Seang Bee 21 October 1915, Melbourne Ulysses 27 October 1915, 7th Reinforcements departed Brisbane Itonus 30 December 1915, Hobart Ajana 13 December 1915, 8th Reinforcements departed Brisbane Kyarra 3 January 1916, Melbourne Afric 5 January 1916, 9th Reinforcements departed Brisbane Wandilla 31 January 1916, 10th Reinforcements departed Brisbane Commonwealth 28 March 1916, 11th Reinforcements departed Sydney Star of Victoria 31 March 1916, 12th Reinforcements departed Sydney Mooltan 12 April 1916, 13th Reinforcements departed Seang Choon 4 May 1916, 14th Reinforcements departed Brisbane Itonus 8 August 1916, 15th Reinforcements departed Brisbane Clan Macgillivray 7 September 1916, 16th Reinforcements departed Brisbane Boonah 21 October 1916, 17th Reinforcements departed Brisbane Marathon 27 October 1916, 18th Reinforcements departed Sydney Demosthenes 22 December 1916, 19th Reinforcements departed Sydney Wiltshire 7 February 1917, 20th Reinforcements departed Sydney Hororata 16 June 1917, 21st Reinforcements departed Sydney Ormonde 2 March 1918.
Battle Honours: Suvla, Gallipoli 1915, Egypt 1915-16, Somme 1916-18, Pozieres, Bapaume 1917, Bullecourt, Ypres 1917, Menin Road, Polygon Wood, Broodeseinde, Poelcappelle, Passchendaele, Ancre 1918, Amiens, Albert 1918, Mont St Quentin, Hindenburg Line, Beaurevoir, France and Flanders 1916-18
Egypt, Gallipoli, Western Front

[Information from http://www.unsw.adfa.edu.au/~rmallett]

Wound Stripe

Army Order No.204 Headquarters, 1st A.N.Z.A.C., 9th August, 1916.
DISTINCTIONS FOR OFFICERS AND SOLDIERS WHO HAVE BEEN WOUNDED

The following distinction in dress will be worn on the service dress jacket by all officers and soldiers who have been wounded in any of the campaigns since 4th August 1914 :
Stripes of gold Russia braid No.1, two inches in length sewn perpendicularly on the left forearm sleeve of the jacket to mark each occasion on which wounded.

In the case of officers, the lower end of the first strip of gold braid will be immediately above the upper point of the flap on the cuff. Warrant officers, non-commissioned officers and men will wear the gold braid on the left forearm sleeve, the lower edge of the braid to be three inches from the bottom of the sleeve. Subsequent occasions on which wounded, will be placed on either side of the original one at half inch interval. Gold braid and sews will be obtained free on indent from the Army Ordnance Department; the sewing on will be carried out regimentally without expense to the public.

Long Service Badges

A.I.F. ORDER No.470, 24 January 1917

The question of the issue of a badge to members of the AIF who have completed a certain period of service has received consideration, and approval has been given for the issue of a badge for long service combined with good conduct, subject to the following conditions.

The badge will consist of an inverted single chevron of service braid to be worn on the left forearm - the point of the chevron to be 3 inches above the edge of the cuff.
Warrant and non-commissioned officers and men, will be eligible for the badge, which will not carry an increased pay or allowance.
One chevron will be worn for each complete year's service in the Australian Imperial Force from the date of embarkation in Australia; but no badge will be issued to any man who, during the 12 months, has incurred a regimental entry (i.e. an entry involving forfeiture of pay) in his sheet.
Time absent from the unit in hospital or elsewhere on account of wounds or sickness, not the result of misconduct, will count as service towards earning the badge.
A man in possession of a badge will forfeit same on being convicted of any offence involving a forfeiture of pay , but will be eligible to regain the badge after 6 months good conduct, from the date of forfeiture.
The illegal wearing of this badge will be a crime under A.A. Section 40.

Overseas Service Chevrons

Australian Imperial Force Order No.1053, 4th January 1918 *(Slightly abridged)

His Majesty the King has been graciously pleased to approve of the award of chevrons to denote service overseas since the 4th August 1914.

Chevrons of two colours have been approved. The first chevron if earned on or before 31st December 1914, will be red; if earned on or after 1st January 1915, it will be blue; and all additional chevrons after the first will be blue.

The chevrons will be worsted embroidery, 1/4 inch in width, the arms 1/4 inch long. They will be worn inverted on the right forearm: in the case of officers, the apex of the lowest chevron will be 1 inch above the upper point of the flap on the cuff. In the case of warrant-officers, non-commissioned officers and men, the apex of the lowest chevron will be midway between the seams and four inches above the bottom edge of the sleeve. The red chevron will be worn below the blue one. They will not be worn on greatcoats.

In the case of Australians, the first chevron was earned the date the individual left Australia. Additional chevrons were awarded for each successive aggregate period of 12 months service outside Australia.

[http://au.geocities.com/fortysecondbattalion/level2/reference/01nos-standards.htm]