The White Rose of Cumbria
Special Constable John Taylor Cumberland and Westmorland Constabulary and HM Coastguard Auxiliary
The Man John (Jack) Taylor was born on Friday 31st May 1907 at Barrow in Furness, son of John senior, a Marine Engineer’s Mechanic and Emily nee Harvey. He was one of four children, Andrew (1904–1978), Harold born in 1909, William 1911 and Frances 1914.
The 1911 census shows the family living at 41 Cameron Street, Barrow in Furness. At the outbreak of World War I on 4th August 1914 Jack was aged just seven, but after finishing school followed his father’s footsteps working for the local marine industry. He served his apprenticeship as a Shipwright in Vickers Armstrong, where a part of his job involved diving in the docks, to inspect the hulls of ships and dock gates.
During the 1920s he moved to Millom, Cumberland to work for Hodbarrow, an Iron Ore Company, on their Pilot Boat, guiding the ships in to collect pig iron for exportation.
In the second quarter of 1934, aged 27 Jack married Agnes Fisher in Barrow and they had one daughter, Margaret, born in 1935. At about this time he also began fishing a trawler out of Haverigg, with a partner, Alec Melon who owned numerous boats locally. By 1939 the family were living 16 Main Street, Millom and Jack’s occupation given as a River Pilot. Interestingly his date of birth is given as 31st April 1907 (sic).
Jack’s work at the shipyard bought him into contact with a Dr Coffey, a local yachtsman who owned the ‘White Rose, a renowned yacht locally in her day, winning the record for the passage from Douglas to Piel Island in 1928. Jack helped Dr Coffey with crewing and maintenance and over time they became friends. When Jack joined the local Coastguard and Special Constabulary in the Cumberland and Westmorland Police in 1939, it was Dr Coffey who gave him a reference.
The 1911 census shows the family living at 41 Cameron Street, Barrow in Furness. At the outbreak of World War I on 4th August 1914 Jack was aged just seven, but after finishing school followed his father’s footsteps working for the local marine industry. He served his apprenticeship as a Shipwright in Vickers Armstrong, where a part of his job involved diving in the docks, to inspect the hulls of ships and dock gates.
During the 1920s he moved to Millom, Cumberland to work for Hodbarrow, an Iron Ore Company, on their Pilot Boat, guiding the ships in to collect pig iron for exportation.
In the second quarter of 1934, aged 27 Jack married Agnes Fisher in Barrow and they had one daughter, Margaret, born in 1935. At about this time he also began fishing a trawler out of Haverigg, with a partner, Alec Melon who owned numerous boats locally. By 1939 the family were living 16 Main Street, Millom and Jack’s occupation given as a River Pilot. Interestingly his date of birth is given as 31st April 1907 (sic).
Jack’s work at the shipyard bought him into contact with a Dr Coffey, a local yachtsman who owned the ‘White Rose, a renowned yacht locally in her day, winning the record for the passage from Douglas to Piel Island in 1928. Jack helped Dr Coffey with crewing and maintenance and over time they became friends. When Jack joined the local Coastguard and Special Constabulary in the Cumberland and Westmorland Police in 1939, it was Dr Coffey who gave him a reference.
During World War II, Jack’s vital work was considered a reserved occupation, thus he didn’t serve in the Armed Forces, however, one of his tasks during the conflict was to secure with rope, any mines that washed up on shore and tow them out to sea where they could be detonated.
He was described as a ‘Brave man’ and always willing to help other boat owners in his spare time, repairing their boats and never saying ‘no’, always for very little money. As a local Special Constable he would often be woken by a knock on his door at some unearthly hour, to sort out unruly drunks in the local pubs. The Landlords would often say “Someone go and get Jack Taylor” whenever there was trouble.
On 9th October 1943 Dr Coffey sold the White Rose to Jack for one shilling, who then laid her up until 1949 at Millom. Jack later sold it to Fred Rollinson and the yacht went on to achieve other successes before being sold by Fred to Furness Maritime Trust for £1.00. She is currently proudly exhibited at the Dock Museum Barrow, having been refurbished and looking as she did in her heyday in 1910.
Jack qualified for his Special Constabulary Long Service Medal in 1942 and at the end of the war awarded the Defence Medal and clasp ‘Long Service 1946’ to his SC medal, war service counting treble. He continued serving in the SC after the war and awarded a further long service clasp in 1956 as well as his Coastguard Auxiliary Long Service Medal.
Jack continued working in the maritime industry as long as he was able and passed away aged 79 in the last quarter of 1986 in Millom. Agnes lived another eight years and died in the second quarter of 1994 in Whitehaven.
Thus ended, the life of a brave man, who although not seeing ‘active’ service, nevertheless put himself in mortal danger for the defence of his country during dark days for many years.
He was described as a ‘Brave man’ and always willing to help other boat owners in his spare time, repairing their boats and never saying ‘no’, always for very little money. As a local Special Constable he would often be woken by a knock on his door at some unearthly hour, to sort out unruly drunks in the local pubs. The Landlords would often say “Someone go and get Jack Taylor” whenever there was trouble.
On 9th October 1943 Dr Coffey sold the White Rose to Jack for one shilling, who then laid her up until 1949 at Millom. Jack later sold it to Fred Rollinson and the yacht went on to achieve other successes before being sold by Fred to Furness Maritime Trust for £1.00. She is currently proudly exhibited at the Dock Museum Barrow, having been refurbished and looking as she did in her heyday in 1910.
Jack qualified for his Special Constabulary Long Service Medal in 1942 and at the end of the war awarded the Defence Medal and clasp ‘Long Service 1946’ to his SC medal, war service counting treble. He continued serving in the SC after the war and awarded a further long service clasp in 1956 as well as his Coastguard Auxiliary Long Service Medal.
Jack continued working in the maritime industry as long as he was able and passed away aged 79 in the last quarter of 1986 in Millom. Agnes lived another eight years and died in the second quarter of 1994 in Whitehaven.
Thus ended, the life of a brave man, who although not seeing ‘active’ service, nevertheless put himself in mortal danger for the defence of his country during dark days for many years.
The Story The medals awarded to John Taylor were acquired from E-Bay on 27th January 2023 and of immediate interest because of the very unusual combination of the Coastguard Auxiliary and Special Constabulary Long Service medal, in fact, one not seen before! With the medals came the boxes of issue showing John had been in the Cumberland and Westmorland Special Constabulary.
Following their acquisition, no further detail could be found on Ancestry UK, as there were simply too many John Taylors, living in Cumberland born within an appropriate span of years, any of whom could have been ‘the’ Man.
However, three months after their acquisition, the vendor made contact stating he had found another long service clasp to John Taylor’s Special Constabulary Medal dated 1946. This was very exciting as it validated far more specifically the years during World War II John had served, especially to receive the 1956 clasp 10 years later.
Also revealed during the e mail exchanges, was the fact the vendor was John’s Grandson! This enabled, after some checking and cross referencing on Ancestry.UK, John’s, known as Jack, details to be found, plus the fact he had been quite a celebrity in his local area and several photographs of him and a yacht he had owned were available on the Dock Museum Barrow’s web site.
Permission was sought from the museum to use the pictures and the result is a very pleasing and indeed different story of a brave man who worked in arduous conditions during and after World War II to be awarded his three medals.
Thanks must go to John’s Grandson John Hill and the Dock Museum for their input and permission to use the photographs.
Click here for more photographs
Following their acquisition, no further detail could be found on Ancestry UK, as there were simply too many John Taylors, living in Cumberland born within an appropriate span of years, any of whom could have been ‘the’ Man.
However, three months after their acquisition, the vendor made contact stating he had found another long service clasp to John Taylor’s Special Constabulary Medal dated 1946. This was very exciting as it validated far more specifically the years during World War II John had served, especially to receive the 1956 clasp 10 years later.
Also revealed during the e mail exchanges, was the fact the vendor was John’s Grandson! This enabled, after some checking and cross referencing on Ancestry.UK, John’s, known as Jack, details to be found, plus the fact he had been quite a celebrity in his local area and several photographs of him and a yacht he had owned were available on the Dock Museum Barrow’s web site.
Permission was sought from the museum to use the pictures and the result is a very pleasing and indeed different story of a brave man who worked in arduous conditions during and after World War II to be awarded his three medals.
Thanks must go to John’s Grandson John Hill and the Dock Museum for their input and permission to use the photographs.
Click here for more photographs
Medal Details:
- Defence Medal: Unnamed as awarded.
- Coastguard Auxiliary Long Service: JOHN TAYLOR
- Special Constabulary Long Service Medal: JOHN TAYOR
This page last updated 21 May 23
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