Interfering old general
Extract from WW1 letter dated 28th March 1917
From David Taylor BEF France to May Muggridge in Beckenham
“….When you are especially busy and have some particular thing on or perhaps the Germans are giving some trouble you will suddenly get a message asking how many rounds of ammunition you have, or how may picks and shovels…An interfering old general, the chief of our little lot of generals, came along and found the captain of another company without his belt and promptly went for him right and left…we have since had a special order…that all officers are to wear belts. It is so important you see, even though you can’t get a decent wash. I have just had a wash and shave in water taken from a shell hole. This water is always somewhat muddy, but a wash is a wash…”
Cheerful mood
Extract from WW1 letter dated 19th Feb 1917
From May Muggridge to David Taylor
“…went on to No 56 where Mrs Taylor was watching for me in the window, and I got a most hearty welcome from her and Peter. I have never seen Mrs Taylor looking better, and have never known her in a more cheerful mood…One of the first things she said was ‘I have sent my boy 3 parcels, and am having such cheerful letters from him each day…Maud was also highly delighted at hearing from you…Your ears did ought to burn ferociously…Mrs Taylor got up.. then we drank tea and talked.. ‘Did David tell you he wanted me to be engaged to him before he went away?….I said No, as he has quite enough responsibility just now as it is, to which she replied…no wonder he is so cheerful’.
David leaves for France
Extract from WW1 letter dated 6th February 1917
From Fanny Taylor (David’s mother) in Balham London to her daughter (and David’s sister) Ethel Linn in USA.
“My darling Ethel,
Just a line to tell you David started for France, he went off bright and early and it’s a beautiful sunny morning, he is very well. Hoping you are well and will be kept from harm.
With fondest love from your loving Mamma.”
Hare Hall Camp
Extracts from WW1 letter “Date Unknown, Year Doubtful”
From David Henry Taylor in Hare Hall Camp, London to his sister Ginger (Ethel) Linn in USA. “At 6.30 physical drills until 7 …. Breakfast 7.45 consisting of porridge, boiled bacon, bread and margarine (if you are lucky) and marmalade (if there is any left) …. At 8.30 parades, which may be squad drill, platoon drill, company drill, or forty other kind of drill …. Lunch from 1 to 2 o’clock … Parade at 2, which may be trench digging, map reading and drawing … Dinner at 5 pm… At 6 o’clock parade for a lecture until 7 …. We have to be in bed at 9.15 … lights out at 10”
Hut
Extract from WW1 letter dated 28th Sept 1916
From David Taylor to Ginger (Ethel) Linn in USA
“…It is rather remarkable that I discovered quite by chance that my Captain is a member of the T Square Lodge and that there is another man in the next hut who is also a member there….Here in the camp they have just instituted two new ideas. One is that 120 men are served out with rifles and ammunition and have to be ready with equipment and food to be sent anywhere to guard any Zepps that may have been brought down. The second is that another 90 men have to be ready to go off to hold down any Zepp that may come down in a damaged condition…”
Joining the Army
Extract from WW1 letter dated 28th Dec 1915
From David Taylor to Ginger (Ethel) Linn in USA
“…I don’t know if Mum has told you that I have joined the Army. I have joined up under Lord Derby’s scheme and shall be called up with my class….I had also joined previously the London University Officer Training Corps Engineers Unit and I am now down at Kensington being instructed in the gentle art pf “strafing” Germans….Some while ago I thought of applying for a commission direct and after much trial and tribulation I gave it up on Mr Rushbrooke’s advice…He pointed out that I should be responsible for the lives of the men under me and that we had already lost large numbers through young officers being incompetent…”