Taylor, Wesley Hall

Lieutenant Wesley Hall Taylor MC – 

32^nd Battalion AIF

Wesley Taylor was born in 1891 to Richard and Annie Taylor. They had married in Fremantle in 1876 and their first child, Edith was born here in 1880. The Taylors then moved to Geraldton where Charles was born in 1882. The family moved further north where they took up residence in Carnarvon. Several more children followed, with William in 1884, Annie 1886, Sydney in 1887, Olive in 1889, Wesley in 1891 and Emily in 1893. The Taylors now returned to Fremantle where the kids went to school, and two more children were born, Bernice in 1896 and Gladys in 1898.

The family lived at 215 Hampton Road Fremantle and named their residence ‘Carnarvon Cottage.’

Wes would attend school in the local area and the family attend the nearby St Paul’s church which was a social and sporting hub for the Beaconsfield community. Wes began work on the local market gardens and farms and by the time he enlisted in the war he listed his occupation as farmer.

Wes enlisted in the AIF on the 15^th July 1915 at Blackboy Hill Camp. The medical officer found him to be fit for service and recorded his physical attributes as;

Height;                              5 feet 9 inches;

Weight:                             unrecorded;

Chest Measurement:         34-36 inches;

Complexion:                      Dark;

Eyes:                                Brown;

Hair:                                 Black;

Religious Denomination:    Church of England.

Many of the new infantry recruits were being sent to reinforce the WA units already overseas, namely the 11^th, 16^th and 28^th Battalions, with some men having as little as six weeks between their enlistment and arriving at Gallipoli. However, after a short period in the training depot, Wes was assigned to the newly forming 32^nd Battalion AIF. Two companies were being formed in South Australia, while the other two would come from WA.

Wes was assigned to “D” Company with the regimental number 1378. The WA section of the 32^nd Battalion trained at Blackboy Hill Camp for the next several weeks but they then received their embarkation orders. Arriving at Fremantle Harbour they boarded a troopship which took them to South Australia and so the 32^nd Battalion could now train as a full unit.

Wes wrote home from South Australia in October;

“Well we are still in the same place here, and are now going through our shooting. We have been through the first and second class tests and I am pleased to say I have secured the best possible number each time that is 40 out of 40. We still have three more tests to go through, the 400 and 500 yards, the 600 and 700 yards, and the 800 yards.

We are still infantrymen but 20 out of every company of 240 men are trained in making bombs and using them, also in laying land mines, and charging and exploding them. Our work is mostly in attacking small parties of the enemy that are too well screened for artillery to deal with, such as machine gun sections, and also when we are entrenched within throwing distance of the enemy. The bomb is made in all kinds of ways and is very powerful. We even make them in old tins. We have to carry all the necessaries, and from the time you light them till the time they explode is five seconds, so we have plenty of practice in lighting dummy ones and learning how long to hold them so that when you throw them, they just reach their objective as they explode. It is said to be pretty risky but don’t let anyone try and tell you that because it’s alright, and no more risky than anything else.

On the 18^th November 1915, Wes and the 32^nd Battalion boarded the HMAT Geelong and set sail for Egypt, disembarking at Suez on the 18^th December 1915. The men would have been expecting to be sent on to Gallipoli, but with the news that the Dardanelles had been evacuated, they instead settled in to their Egyptian base.

The 32^nd Battalion were sent to the Ferry Post position on the Suez Canal defence line. On the 3^rd January 1916 Wes was evacuated ill to hospital and he was soon admitted to the 1^st Australian Dermatological Hospital. Wes would remain at the 1^st ADH for some time, only being taken back on strength of the 32^nd Battalion on the 5^th March 1916.

The AIF was now going through a reorganisation, and the 8^th Brigade, which for the past few months had been a separate entity, now became part of the 5^th Australian Division, with the 14^th & 15^th Brigades. Divisional training commenced over the next few months including some infamous desert marches, through compared to some other leaders the 8^th Brigade commander; Brigadier General Tivey took a keen interest in his men and the 8^th Brigade did not go through the same ordeals as the other Australian units, which led to the 8^th Brigade being labelled ‘Tivey’s Choc’s’.

On the 26^th May 1916 Wes was appointed Lance Corporal and he was at this rank when the 32^nd Battalion departed Egypt aboard the HMT Transylvania on the 17^th June 1916. The sea journey to France took six days and the men disembarked at Marseilles on the 23^rd June.

The 5^th Division were then entrained north where they relieved the 4^th Division AIF at Fleurbaix. The 32^nd Battalion did not get much front line experience before they were thrown into the disastrous Fromelles action on July 19^th. The 32^nd Battalion were the flanking unit of the 8^th Brigade and were torn to shreds by the German fire. Despite this they did manage to get into the German line but the Germans were able to encircle these men and those remaining had to fight their way back through the Germans or surrender. The casualties in the 32^nd Battalion were horrendous and Wes was among these numbers. During the assault he had been wounded in the face though he was able to make his way back for medical treatment. He spent a few days at No.2 Australian Casualty Clearing Station. He was then transferred to the Base details camp and rejoined the 32^nd Battalion on the 15^th August 1916. Wes was only back five days when he was evacuated to the 15^th Field Ambulance with Gastroenteritis. He spent the next few days resting up and rejoined the 32^nd Battalion on the 25^th August. The following day Wes was promoted to Acting Corporal.

The 5^th Division remained in the Fleurbaix sector through to October and it was during this period that Wes was promoted to Sergeant. The 5^th Division was now sent to the Somme region where they went into the line near Flers. The 32^nd Battalion was greeted with a wet, muddy and freezing battlefield, as they held positions so dearly won by the British and Commonwealth forces.

On the 30^th November Wes was evacuated with bronchitis, firstly to the 39^th CCS then to hospital in Etaples. He was in hospital for the next four weeks and just after Christmas he marched into the 5^th Australian Base Depot at Etaples. Due to his illness Wes had been marked as not yet ready to return to the 32^nd Battalion so he worked at the 5^th ADBD for the next four months. He eventually rejoined the 32^nd Battalion on the 21^st April 1917. The 5^th Division were now located in the Bullecourt sector. The 32^nd Battalion took part in the latter stages of the 2^nd Battle of Bullecourt in May 1917 but they were then withdrawn for a rest period out of the line.

Wes remained with his unit as they spent the next few months on training and sporting activities. On the 25^th August 1917 Wes was detached for duty to the Anzac Corps School. He spent several weeks on the infantry course but returned to the 32^nd Battalion on the 2^nd October 1917. The 5^th Division had just come through the Polygon Wood action and Wes saw action around Broodseinde and Zonnebeke as the line slowly advanced towards Passchendaele.

Wes must have show good leadership abilities as he was selected to attend an Officers Cadet Training Battalion at Oxford, so on the 25^th October he journeyed to England. He was taken on strength of the Officers Cadet Battalion on the 9^th November 1917. Wes would spend the next five months at No.4 Officers Cadet Battalion at Oxford. He qualified from the course on the 26^th March 1917. Wes was now transferred to the 1^st Australian Training Battalion at Sutton Veny Camp. He still retained his rank of Sergeant as his commission as a 2^nd Lieutenant didn’t come through until the 1^st May 1918. Wes also spent a week at the School of Musketry at Tidworth but on the 9^th May he returned to France. He only spent a few days with the Australian Infantry Base Depot at Le Havre and he rejoined the 32^nd Battalion on the 16^th May 1918.

The 32^nd Battalion were then in the line near Vaux-sur-Somme and in June saw service in the Augbiny sector. On the 8^th June Wes was sent for instruction to the Australian Corps Gas School. He returned to the 32^nd but he soon fell ill and was sent to the 41^st CCS on the 22^nd June 1918. He was diagnosed with debility and spent a month out of the line, returning to his unit on the 21^st July 1918.

Through June and July 1918 the 32^nd Battalion were on a constant rotation in and out of the line with their sister 8^th Brigade units. On July 29^th in a vital operation the 32^nd Battalion secured an important piece of land known as the Brick Beacon. This site had given the Germans a view over the Australian lines, so its’ capture was vital particularly with a large advance soon planned to take place. 2ndLt Wesley Hall was recommended for the Military Cross for his actions in this battle. The official citation reads;

“On the night of 28^th/29^th July 1918 during the operations near Morlancourt, south west of Albert, 2^nd Lieutenant Taylor set a great example of courage and devotion to duty. He displayed gallantry in rushing a machine gun post which had held up his platoon, killed two of the enemy and captured the crew of three with the gun. After the objective had been won he led a small party of men and mopped up two enemy posts, capturing a number of prisoners including an officer. Throughout the operation this officer displayed great courage and initiative and is worthy of recognition.”

This was ratified by Brigadier General Tivey and Major-General Talbot Hobbs, so Wes received the Military Cross.

Wes took part in the 8^th August advance when the 32^nd Battalion were in support for the 8^th Brigade operations in the Morcourt Valley. On the 11^th August Wes was evacuated to the 10^th Field Ambulance where he was diagnosed as suffering from myalgia. He was sent on to the 53^rd CCS and then to the 8^th General Hospital at Rouen. Wes had several days here but by the 21^st he was well enough to be transferred to the Base Depot. On the 26^th August he was taken back on strength of the 32^nd Battalion, and he had now received his promotion from 2^nd Lieutenant to Lieutenant. The 32^nd were still in the line near Mont St Quentin and on the 5^th September they pushed on towards Bussu, captured the village and set up a line 500m to the east.

 During this operation Wes was gassed and he was evacuated to the 10^th Field Ambulance. After initial treatment he was sent to the 5^th CCS. He spent a few days here and was then put on an ambulance train to the 8^th General Hospital at Rouen. Wes only had a short time here as on the 9^th September he was put aboard the hospital ship Grantully Castle and sent to England. On the 10^th Wes was admitted to the 3^rd London General Hospital. His gassing had been quite severe as he remained in this hospital under treatment until the 6^th November 1918.

Wes would spend the Armistice in England on furlough and on the 16^th November he returned to France. He was initially sent into the Australian Infantry Base Depot before returning to his battalion but it seems Wes was still suffering the effects of his gassing. On the 23^rd November he was sent to the 39^th General Hospital at Le Havre. He would spend the next 31 days in this hospital, as recovering from the influenza was exacerbated by the damage the gassing had done to him. However on the 23^rd December Wes was released from hospital and he returned to the Base Depot. It appears that Wes was taken on strength of the Australian Infantry Base Depot in Le Havre for the next five months, where he helped organise the repatriation of the Australian troops to England. On the 24^th May Wes sprained his ankle and was sent into the 52^nd Stationary Hospital. Five days later he was shipped to England. He spent a bit more time in the 3^rd London General Hospital recovering from his sprained ankle.

On the 25^th June 1919 Wes was granted leave as he was waiting for space on a transport ship and it appears he was given the role of ship’s adjutant on the HMT Wiltshire when he boarded on the 4^th July 1919. The journey home took several weeks and the ship bypassed WA but berthed in Port Adelaide on the 16^th August 1919. Wes and the Westralian troops then had to make their way to WA.

After his arrival home in Fremantle, Wes was sent to No.8 AGH in South Terrace where it was found he was still suffering from ankle trouble which would necessitate seven weeks treatment in hospital but his heart and chest were deemed all clear. Lieutenant Wes Taylor MC was discharged from the AIF on the 20^th December 1919.

After his discharge Wes continued to live in Fremantle but soon took employment in the North West. He continued to return regularly to Fremantle and in 1925 he married Eileen King.

Wes was working as the Manager of Three Rivers Station, which was situated between Peak Hill and Nullagine, at the headwater of the Gascoyne River; (It’s still a working station). Eileen joined him at the Station but they did try to get back to Fremantle at least once a year. In December 1928 tragedy struck when Wes accidentally shot himself in the head. A court of enquiry was held at Meekatharra.

“It was stated that the deceased got up as usual that morning and in a reply to a query by one of the station hands said he felt pretty crook. There was some discussion about shooting a foal and deceased said they would do it that morning. Shortly afterwards the sound of a gun going off was heard, and one of the men said that Mr. Taylor had shot himself. On going to the motor car which was about 70 yards from the house, they found Mr. Taylor dead, lying on his back with his feet against the running board. The opinion was expressed that deceased had gone to the car to get the gun, and that it had accidentally gone off. He was somewhat careless in the use of firearms. The evidence of Dr. E.T. Walsh was to the effect that the shot had been fired at close range to the body and had caused a wound in the head sufficient to cause instantaneous death; but there was nothing to give any indication and no marks on the hand to suggest that the deceased had pulled the trigger. The Coroner returned a verdict that deceased had met his death by a gunshot wound accidentally inflicted by himself.”

Evidence had been given by Eileen Taylor, Dr. Esmond Walsh, Martin Ernest Bourgoine, Hartle Power and Edgar Morrow. (Morrow ex 28^th Bn was the author of Iron in the Fire).

Wesley Taylor was buried in the Church of England section of Meekatharra Cemetery.