Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A most unusual Great War D.C.M. group of seven awarded to Sergeant W. A. Taylor, Border Regiment, late Hampshire Regiment, who, hearing that the officers and senior N.C.O’s of his company had become casualties, immediately took command of the company during a heavy barrage; later, during lulls in the action, he ‘produced a piccolo, and by playing popular airs cheered and put new spirit into his men’; he afterwards joined the Royal Air Force and received one of only 8 Army L.S. & G.C. medals named to that unit

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (10575 Sjt: W. A. Taylor. 8/Bord: R.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Paardeberg, Transvaal (5144 Dr. W. Taylor, 2nd Hampshire Regt.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (5144 Dmr: W. Taylor. Hampshire Regt.); 1914 Star (10575 Pte. W. A. Taylor. Bord: R.); British War and Victory Medals (10575 Sjt. W. A. Taylor. Bord. R.); Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (345492 Sjt. W. A. Taylor. R.A.F.) mounted as worn, the Boer War medals with edge bruising and polished, fine, others nearly very fine, the last very rare (7) £2,000-£2,400

From the collection of Long Service Medals formed by John Tamplin, Dix Noonan Webb, December 2008.

D.C.M. London Gazette 3 September 1918:
‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty when in charge of stretchers. Hearing that all his company officers and senior N.C.O’s. were down he left his job and went forward to take charge of the company at great personal danger, passing through a heavy barrage. He took charge of the remainder of the company, collected stragglers, organized them into bombing and Lewis gun sections, with the result that when another came he found all the work had been done. During lulls he produced a piccolo, and by playing popular airs cheered and put new spirit into his men’.
Regimental History confirms award for Vaulx Wood, 21-22 March 1918.

William A. Taylor served as a Drummer in the 2nd Battalion, Hampshire Regiment during the Boer War. He served in France with the 2nd Border Regiment from 5 October 1914, and won the D.C.M. whilst serving as a Sergeant with the 8th Battalion, Border Regiment. He subsequently served in the Royal Air Force and was awarded the Army L.S. & G.C. through Army Order 388 of October 1924, one of only eight such awards given to the R.A.F.