Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Ralph Taylor ERD* TD Somerset Light Infantry
The Man Thomas Ralph Taylor was born on Tuesday 20th March 1906 in Saltford, Somerset, son of Thomas a Paint and Varnish Manufacturer and Enid Mary nee Brown. He had two brothers, Reginald Henry 1908-83 and Wilfred Bowes 1913-85. He was Baptised on 16th April 1906 in the Parish of Satlford St Mary, Somerset.
In 1911 the family were living at 5 Charlton Road, Keynsham, Somerset, together with Madelaine Maillet a French Governess and Laura Calloway the family servant.
Thomas attended Clifton College and was a member of their Cross Country Team running the Long Penpole race in 1923 aged 17. He joined the College Contingent Junior Division Officer Training Corps (OTC) at about the same time being promoted to Sergeant. A date of 25th July 1924 appears in the Army List annotated ‘employed’, possibly the date aged 18 he joined the OTC. On 25th July 1931 aged 25 he was Commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant into the Somerset Light Infantry (Prince Albert’s) (SLI), Supplementary Reserve of Officers (SRO) with service number 52447.
Thomas also seems to have served in the OTC simultaneously as the SLI, taking command of the Chigwell School detachment on 8th November 1933.
On 25th July 1934 he was promoted to Lieutenant and to local Captain on 29th October. He was shown in the Army list of 1939 as attached to Chigwell School OTC and ‘employed’ and attached to the OTC from 24th August 1939.
On 24th April 1943 he was transferred from the SLI SRO to the Regular Army Reserve of Officers (RARO) as Lieutenant retaining his present seniority. He was promoted Temporary Captain in the SLI RARO on 1st March 1943, War Substantive Captain 5th December 1944 and Temporary Major the same day. He served at home for the duration of the War and awarded the Defence Medal and War Medal 1939-45.
In 1911 the family were living at 5 Charlton Road, Keynsham, Somerset, together with Madelaine Maillet a French Governess and Laura Calloway the family servant.
Thomas attended Clifton College and was a member of their Cross Country Team running the Long Penpole race in 1923 aged 17. He joined the College Contingent Junior Division Officer Training Corps (OTC) at about the same time being promoted to Sergeant. A date of 25th July 1924 appears in the Army List annotated ‘employed’, possibly the date aged 18 he joined the OTC. On 25th July 1931 aged 25 he was Commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant into the Somerset Light Infantry (Prince Albert’s) (SLI), Supplementary Reserve of Officers (SRO) with service number 52447.
Thomas also seems to have served in the OTC simultaneously as the SLI, taking command of the Chigwell School detachment on 8th November 1933.
On 25th July 1934 he was promoted to Lieutenant and to local Captain on 29th October. He was shown in the Army list of 1939 as attached to Chigwell School OTC and ‘employed’ and attached to the OTC from 24th August 1939.
On 24th April 1943 he was transferred from the SLI SRO to the Regular Army Reserve of Officers (RARO) as Lieutenant retaining his present seniority. He was promoted Temporary Captain in the SLI RARO on 1st March 1943, War Substantive Captain 5th December 1944 and Temporary Major the same day. He served at home for the duration of the War and awarded the Defence Medal and War Medal 1939-45.
Following the war on 1st September 1946, Thomas was shown in the London Gazette as being appointed to the Territorial Army General List, Junior Training Corps at Chigwell School, SLI (RARO) as a 2nd Lieutenant. On 1st January 1950 he was granted the acting rank of Captain and on 1st April substantive Lieutenant with seniority from 1st September 1946. In the RARO he was appointed substantive Captain on 1st January 1949 and granted the rank of Honorary Major.
On 25th August 1956 aged 50 he left the SLI RARO as having exceeded the age limit of liability to recall and in the London Gazette of 17th September 1957, awarded the Army Emergency Reserve Decoration and first clasp as Lt, Acting Captain, now Territorial Army. In the same gazette he was awarded the Efficiency Decoration ‘Territorial’ as Combined Cadet Force, Chigwell School. At the time he was living at 5 Summerfield Road, Loughton, Essex.
He was promoted to Acting Lieutenant Colonel on 1st March 1960 and retired on 1st September 1972 aged 65.
Thomas died on 27th October 1990 at King’s Lynn Norfolk, aged 84
On 25th August 1956 aged 50 he left the SLI RARO as having exceeded the age limit of liability to recall and in the London Gazette of 17th September 1957, awarded the Army Emergency Reserve Decoration and first clasp as Lt, Acting Captain, now Territorial Army. In the same gazette he was awarded the Efficiency Decoration ‘Territorial’ as Combined Cadet Force, Chigwell School. At the time he was living at 5 Summerfield Road, Loughton, Essex.
He was promoted to Acting Lieutenant Colonel on 1st March 1960 and retired on 1st September 1972 aged 65.
Thomas died on 27th October 1990 at King’s Lynn Norfolk, aged 84
The Story The medals awarded to Thomas Ralph Taylor were acquired from Dix Noonan Webb’s online auction on 23rd March 2022. They were of interest because of the Emergency Reserve and Efficiency Decoration combination, not the first in this collection, but always intriguing to see two similar decorations together.
Some minor detail and a copy photograph of Thomas came with the medals, with further research on Ancestry.UK, London Gazette, Find a Will and the Ministry of Defence Medal Office filling in some gaps.
By no means a comprehensive biography, but enough to give a taste of this particular man behind his medals.
Some minor detail and a copy photograph of Thomas came with the medals, with further research on Ancestry.UK, London Gazette, Find a Will and the Ministry of Defence Medal Office filling in some gaps.
By no means a comprehensive biography, but enough to give a taste of this particular man behind his medals.
Boxes of issue for Thomas Ralph Taylor's Emergency Reserve and Efficiency Decorations
Reverse of Thomas Ralph Taylor's Emegency Reserve and Efficiency Decorations dated 1957
Medal Details:
- Defence Medal: Unnamed as awarded.
- War Medal 1939-45: Unnamed as awarded.
- Army Emergency Reserve Decoration: 1957 Clasp: 1957
- Efficiency Decoration: 1957
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This page last updated 9 Jun 22
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