Pte Leslie George Harold Taylor

Leslie is recorded on the war memorial at St Thomas's, his military records say he was originally from Chelsea, but he was actually born in Kent and grew up in Guildford. His mother and father worked as drapers and moved to Brentwood in the early 1900s, possibly after Leslie had left home. Leslie was living in Chelsea by 1914 when the first world war broke out - working as a shop assistant - and the following year in 1915 joined the 16th Battalion Middlesex Regiment.

He embarked for France with the 16th Battalion on 17th November 1915. The 16th had a hard time on the front in December 1915, with regular shelling. Lesie was badly wounded with gunshot wounds to his thigh and ankle and was taken to a field hospital - he would remain in hospital until 27th March, when he returned to duty. In May he was again on the front line, and by the end of June he had been moved up the line to 'White City', part of the British trenches opposite Hawthorn Ridge. This would be one of their objectives to take on the first day of the Battle of the Somme, on July 1st 1916.

The 16th's attack on Hawthorn Ridge on 1st July was a terrible failure; 24 officers and about 500 other ranks were lost on that day. Leslie was among that number and was declared missing. It would not be until March the next year that he was declared killed and his family were sent his identity tag, which had been found. His father wrote a letter back to the battalion asking "I thank you for my missing son's disc. Can you give me any information where it was found or anything concerning it - I have enclosed stamped envelope for reply." But he did not get any more helpful informaton, and Leslie's body has never been found.