Dead soldiers from a Highland battalion on the Western Front in 1918..
IWM © Q 102970
Private John Arthur Taylor
15th Battalion (1st Edinburgh), Royal Scots (Lothian Regiment)
Killed in action
Date of Birth: 1882
Place of Birth: Glasgow
Date of Death: 22 March 1918
Buried: Remembered on the Arras Memorial and Stokeinteignhead War Memorial
Awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal
Private John Arthur Taylor age 35.
Born 1882 Glasgow the son of John Arthur Taylor, cap manufacturer, and his wife Eleanor nee Fleming.
As a young man, he lived at home with his parents in Cathcart working as a draper's assistant.
In August 1915 he married Beatrice May Orsman, daughter of Edward and Emma Orsman of Teignsnape, Shaldon. Their daughter, Eleanor was born in February 1917.
Royal Scots (Lothian Regiment)
cap badge
He enlisted 14th January 1916 at Richmond, Yorkshire, having previously served with 13th Battalion Highland Light Infantry. Private Taylor joined the Royal Scots Guards. His address at this time given as 'Elmira' Shaldon Devon.
John was hospitalized for 21 days, 23/02/1917-16/03/1917 in St. Luke's war hospital, Halifax. He was suffering from Myalgia, pain in a muscle or group of muscles. This was followed by a hospital furlough from 16/3/1917 until 26/3/1917.
John was wounded on the 9th of October 1917, probably at Hargicourt. This was followed by a hospital furlough from 1/12/1917 until 10/12/1917.
John was killed in action on the 22nd of March 1918 at the first Battle Of The Somme - Battle Of St. Quentin, which started on the 21st of March 1918.
Location: Croisilles. British defensive success in German victory. In the early morning of 21st March 1918, the German Spring Offensive, 'Operation Michael' began, when German artillery launched the largest artillery bombardment of the war, swiftly followed by rapidly advancing shock troops, against the British Fifth Army, Third Army, and units of the First Army stationed in and around St. Quentin.
Over 3.5 million shells were launched along a 40 miles (60km) front covering 150 sq miles (400 sq km) onto an area held by British Third and Fifth Armies.
Thousands of artillery shells - National Library of Scotland License: CC BY 4.0
The assault was renewed around 08.00 am on the 22nd of March, the 25th Northumbrian Fusiliers fighting off two assaults on the railway embankment before falling back.
Around 10.00 am a strong German column emerged through the mist to attack 101st Infantry Brigade east of Henin Hill. 11th Suffolk Regiment put up a strong fight for several hours, the Divisional Pioneer Battalion, 18th Northumberland Fusiliers coming up to assist them before they too were forced back.
The loss of the hill compelled 15th Royal Scots (Lothian Regiment) and 16th Royal Scots (Lothian Regiment) to fall back, in turn, the Brigade forming a new position west of Boyelles.
British soldiers crouching in a trench - National Library of Scotland License: CC BY 4.0
Further south, 9th Northumberland Fusiliers together with 13th Yorkshire Regiment of 40th Division, staged a fighting retreat from Saint-Leger village to join the remainder of 103rd Infantry Brigade around Judas Farm and Saint-Leger Wood.
The remnants of the Division being relieved from these positions by 31st Division that evening. 34th Division suffered 3888 casualties in the attack.
He is remembered on the Arras Memorial and Stokeinteignhead War Memorial.
Download the commemorative certificate
