Headstone for WW1 soldier from Prestatyn 91 years late

liverpool annie · Aug 18, 2009

This is old news but I thought it maybe of interest !

THE FIRST World War I veteran to be buried with full military honours in Prestatyn has finally been given a headstone – 91 years after his death.

Soldier Herbert John Taylor was forced to resign from the armed forces in December 1916 when he fell ill during his service in France.

The Lieutenant Quartermaster died five weeks later aged 48. But the fact he’d resigned before his untimely death meant the Army would not pay out for a headstone, even though medical board papers said his illness was caused through war service.

But now Prestatyn Town Council have bought a memorial headstone and are trying to trace members of Mr Taylor’s family to invite them to attend a service at Prestatyn Parish Church cemetery next month.

Local historian Jerry Bone said the story emerged when he was researching war memorials in Prestatyn, Meliden and Dyserth.

He said: “I was very intrigued by a postcard that had been given to me by picture historian Harry Thomas showing the very first funeral with full military honours in Prestatyn, but when I looked, I couldn’t find Mr Taylor’s headstone.

“From the image, I could see exactly where he had been buried so I did some research and later discovered a lot about this chap from records in London.

“I learnt that he was from Cardiff and had four sons. He used to be the manager of the city’s Empire Theatre but took a £180 pay cut because he was desperate to serve his country.

“It is sad that the Commonwealth War Graves Commission said he could not have a headstone because he was no longer a serving soldier.”

Mr Taylor, who was an officer for one of the Rhondda Battalions was billeted in North Wales during the early years of WWI after serving in as a volunteer in the Welsh Regiment for 21 years.

In 1916, while in France, he was sent to a casualty clearing centre suffering from inflammation of the bowel and later evacuated to England on sick leave where the army said he could perform his duties in Britain.

But he became unfit for duty and was forced to resign his commission.

He and his family returned to Prestatyn and moved into a house in Sandy Lane but after one month, Mr Taylor’s condition deteriorated and he died on January 3, 1917 of a brain haemorrhage.

Harry Thomas added that at the funeral, the gun carriage carrying the coffin was leant by troops at Kinmel Park Camp, and the procession was headed by the band of the Monmouth Regiment, Oswestry.

“Mr Taylor was sadly interred in an unmarked grave owing to red tape,” he said.

“We thought Mr Taylor deserves a headstone because he fought for his county and loved Prestatyn enough to settle there.”

Councillor June Cahill added: “We are very pleased to have provided the funds for Herbert’s headstone, we just hope any relatives of his can attend the service next month.”

A service for Herbert Taylor will be held at Prestatyn Parish Church High Street at 11am on Saturday, October 18.

It will be attended by the Royal British Legion and the Royal Welsh Battalion and historians dressed as WWI soldiers.
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Sep 29 2008 by Kelly Fenna, Daily Post

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Headstone for WW1 soldier from Prestatyn 91 years late

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