John Taylor enlisted at Chorley on the 19th September 1914, having previously spent 9 years serving as a Volunteer in the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment. He was promoted to Acting Corporal on the 19th October and Corporal on the 19th July 1915.
John did not go with the Chorley Pals to Egypt in December 1915, being transferred to the 12th (Reserve) Battalion on the 18th December. He embarked for France aboard the S.S. La Marguerite from Southampton on the 26th September 1916, arriving at Havre the next day. He was posted to the Military Police with the number of T/2209, spending the next three years in the field. He reverted back to Private at his own request on the16th February 1916 but was promoted to Corporal on the 21st September 1917 and Acting Sergeant on the 26th March 1919; he left the Army on the 5th June 1919, returning to his wife and family in Chorley.
Born in the town in 1879, he married Florence Stewart at St. James’s Church during 1903, setting up home at 12 Silverdale Road; they had two children – Herbert born in 1903 and Annie born 1912. Before enlisting he worked as a Cotton Spinner and worshipped at St. James’ Church. Local records show a John Thomas Taylor, aged 71, died at Chorley in 1950.
