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Taylor, William Horace

Date of birth:
October 23rd, 1908 (Manchester/Greater Manchester, United Kingdom)
Date of death:
January 16th, 1999 (Aberdeen, Scotland)
Nationality:
British

Biography

Later promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander.

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Probationary Temporary Sub-Lieutenant
Unit:
Enemy Mines Section, HMS Vernon, Chatham, Royal Navy
Awarded on:
January 14th, 1941
"At one occasion when a parachute mine could not be immediately rendered safe at a cross-roads in a built-up area of Birmingham. However, as he was deciding what to do next, he learnt that a colleague, Lieutenant Rowson, had decided to tackle it. Initially, Rowson had started the bomb fuse ticking and had run for his life. But when nothing happened he, this time with Taylor, went to have another go, armed with spanners and other tools. When Rowson added to their problems by dislocating his thumb, the two men opted to detonate the bomb where it lay."
George Cross
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Temporary Lieutenant
Unit:
Enemy Mines Section, HMS Vernon, Chatham, Royal Navy
Awarded on:
June 27th, 1941
King's/Queen's Commendation for brave conduct

LG 35201/3653.
Rank:
Assistant Fire Force Commander
Unit:
Fire Service Technical College
Awarded on:
January 1st, 1973
Awarded for services in the scouts.

Civil Division.
LG 45860/12.
Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)
Queen Elizabeth II's Coronation Medal 1953

Sources

  • Photo: George Cross Database
  • - Second Supplement to The London Gazette of 10th January 1941, Issue 35041, dated 14th January 1941
    - Second Supplement to The London Gazette of 24th June 1941, Issue 35201, dated 27th June 1941
    - Supplement to The London Gazette of 29th December 1972, Issue 45860, dated 1st January 1972

Photo