Thomas Taylor

In August 1914 The Battalion were at 261 West Princes Street in Glasgow and were part of Scottish Rifle Brigade, Lowland Division. On completing mobilisation, the Battalion moved to Larbert. In November 1914 they left the Division and moved to France, landing at Le Havre on the 05/11/1914. They came under orders of the 19th Brigade, 6th Division. On the 31/05/1915 they transferred with the Brigade to the 27th Division. On the 19/08/1915 they were transferred with the Brigade to the 2nd Division. On the 25th November 1915 they transferred with the Brigade to the 33rd Division. On the 29/05/1916 they merged with the 1/6th Battalion to become the 5/6th Battalion. Thomas spent 17 months in France. From the History of the 33rd Divisional Artillery - "April 29th 1918 had been the last large-scale operation which the enemy undertook on the Lys front, but Thursday, May 8th, saw a most determined local action, in which the 156th Brigade and the two sections per battery of the 162nd Brigade still in the line took an active part. At 3.00 a.m. on the morning of the 8th the enemy put down a very heavy barrage on the battery and back areas, to which was added, at 5.00 a.m., a severe bombardment on the front system. All the morning until 11.00 a.m. this barrage continued, and under cover of it the Germans attacked. The right Brigade front was penetrated, but the left Brigade formed a defensive flank from Hallebast Corner to the southern end of Dickebusch Lake. All day long the batteries fired on their S.O.S. lines, a steady rate being maintained until 6.15 p.m., when a quarter of an hour's intense bombardment was followed by a counterattack on the part of the 19th Infantry Brigade. By this counterattack all objectives were regained except on the extreme left where the situation remained obscure, and, after a night of intermittent harassing fire with counter-preparation fired at 3.30 a.m. in the morning (9th), the remainder of the 162nd Brigade withdrew from the line and marched to Winnezeele for a short period of rest". The Division were previously involved in the Battle of Hazebrouck, 12th - 15th April 1918, the First Battle of Kemmel, 17th - 19th April 1918 and the fighting for and recapture of Ridge Wood. These were all phases of the Battles of the Lys, 9th April - 29th April 1918 : The third German offensive Operation Georgette takes place in Flanders with the objective of capturing key railway and supply roads and cutting off British Second Army at Ypres. After initial successes the German attack is once again held after British and French reserves are somehow found and deployed. There were 2 death notices in the Coatbridge Express, one from his chum George Fraser (22/05/1918) and the other from his sister and brothers on active service (06/06/1918). Thomas is also remembered on the Maxwell Parish Church Roll of Honour (see photos). Thomas was reburied in Voormezeele Cemetery (see photos). See photos for Thomas' Medal Index Card, his Newspaper clipping, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Service Medal and Award Rolls, another photo of Thomas' grave, his CWGC Grave Registration x 2, Voormezeele Enclosure No.3 and the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) Cap Badge. Thomas' grave inscription reads "GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS THAT A MAN LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIEND".