Taylor, James Kirkpatrick 240223 (1892 - 1918)

Private, 1st/6th Bn. Highland Light Infantry

Buried at Abbeville Communal Cemetery Extension

Commemorated at Hillhead High School

Private James K. Taylor was the only son of Mr. David Taylor, O.B.E., and of Mrs. Taylor, 30 Lawrence Street, Partick. In civil life he was an apprentice naval architect, and was employed with Messrs. Barclay, Curle & Co. in their drawing office. He was a good student at School, and sought to qualify himself for his life work by attendance at the Technical College. There his application and keenness brought him to the front, and a bright career seemed opening up before him when the call came for other service.

Like so many more Hillhead High School boys he was an active member of the 6th H.L.I., and on the 4th August, 1914, his regiment was mobilised for active service together with other Territorial units which went to form the glorious 52nd Lowland Division.

In May, 1915, he sailed for Egypt, and from there proceeded to the Dardanelles in time to take part in the heroic but ill-fated attack on Achi Baba. He was one of the few who passed in safety through the perils, privations, and sickness of that campaign, but during the evacuation of Cape Helles in January, 1916, he received a slight wound which kept him in hospital for some time in Mudros and later in Egypt.

He recovered in time to take part in the first Battle of Gaza, and afterwards shared in the hardships and glories of the advance on Palestine.

In the spring of 1918, when the great German onslaught threatened to overwhelm our forces, the 52nd Division was recalled to the Western Front. There on the 27th September Private Taylor was wounded during an attack on Moeuvres, a place that will be for ever associated with the deathless deeds of the 52nd Division.

The chaplain, writing to the parents, told them that their son had died in hospital on 4th October, and was buried with military honours in
Abbeville cemetery. "I trust," he added, "that you will be comforted by the knowledge that he was a brave man, and in a brave fight he bravely died."