Pte 23841 Alexander Taylor

• Age: 20
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• K.I.A Friday 20th October 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

Alexander Taylor was born on the 28^th June, in 1896 in Liverpool and was baptised at All Saints Church, Anfield on the 10^th July, 1896. He was the son of Annie Taylor (nee Parker), of 13 Robart's Rd, Anfield, Liverpool, and the late George Miller Taylor. They had married in 1885 at West Derby Registry Office.

The 1901 Census shows the family living at 55, Hunt Street, Everton, Liverpool.

The Father George Miller is aged 42, born 1859 and is a Grocer and his wife Annie is aged 33, born 1868, has no occupation listed. At the time of the Census they have five children all born in Liverpool, Joseph aged 13, Mary aged 11, George aged 8, Alexander aged 4 born 1897 and Annie aged 2.

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 6 Robart's Rd, Anfield, Liverpool.

The Father George is aged 51, born 1856 (1901 Census shows year of Birth as 1859) and is a Warehouseman and born in Liverpool. His wife Annie is aged 45, born 1866 (1901 Census shows year of birth as 1868) in Liverpool. At the time of the Census they had been married for 25 years and they have had nine children all born in Liverpool but two have died. Joseph aged 23, born 1884 is a Dairyman, Mary aged 21, born 1890 is a Sewing Machinist, George aged 18, born 1893 is working in a Butchers Shop, Alexander aged 14 born 1897 is an Office Clerk, Annie aged 12, born 1899, Lucy aged 9, born 1902 and Marie aged 7, born 1904 are at school.

His father George died in 1913 aged 53.

Alexander enlisted in Liverpool and was serving in the 20th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 23841.

20th Battalion

Formed in November 1914 the 20th Battalion were originally billeted at Tournament Hall, Knotty Ash before on 29th January 1915 they moved to the hutted accommodation purposely built at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 20th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. He arrived in France on 7th November 1915.

He was killed in action on the 20th October 1916 aged 20 during the Battle of the Transloy Ridges which was part of the ongoing Somme Offensive. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France.

The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Over 90% of those commemorated died between July and November 1916.

On 01st August 1932 the Prince of Wales and the President of France inaugurated the Thiepval Memorial in Picardy. The inscription reads: “Here are recorded the names of officers and men of the British Armies who fell on the Somme battlefields between July 1915 and March 1918 but to whom the fortune of war denied the known and honoured burial given to their comrades in death.”

Reported missing in the Liverpool Daily Post 29th Nov 1916.

He is also commemorated on the Cunard Steam Ship Co (Plaques).

Soldiers Effects and Pension to mother Annie, 13 Robarts Rd, Anfield.

We currently have no further information on Alexander Taylor, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.

Baptismal records show Alexander was born in 1896 and the Census records hold the year 1897.