Mexborough and Swinton Times, October 7, 1916

Wombwell Man Wins Military Medal

Private Arthur Taylor
(Northumberland Fusiliers)

Private Arthur Taylor, of the Northumberland Fusiliers, has won the much coveted honour, the Military Medal, for gallantry and devotion to duty in the recent advance.

In writing to his sister, who is the hostess of the Wharncliffe Arms, Elsecar, Private Taylor merely says: “You will be pleased to know I have won the Military Medal.”

Further letters elicited the fact that it was for his brave conduct that the decoration was awarded him. He enlisted on the outbreak of war and after temple service in England was drafted to France, where he is seen 14 months continuous fighting, taking part in the Fusiliers brilliant assault at St Eloi, and also at Hill 60.

After participating in the advance, he was sent for a rest to a French seaport town, although he came unscathed through some very fierce fighting.

The fortunate soldier comes from  of an old Wombwell family, his grandfather being the late Mr Sam Wake, who was for a great number of years an official at Darfield Main Colliery, and is nephew to Lieutenant Sam Wake, of the Volunteer Training Corps, who served in the Boer War.

In civilian life private Taylor was employed at Houghton Main, and resided with his widowed mother at 58 Station Road Wombwell.