George Daniel Taylor, was born on 20 February 1888 the eldest of the three children of James Taylor and Alice Taylor née Pywell (b.1855). His birth was registered in the 1st quarter of 1888 in the Paddington Registration District, Middlesex (now Greater London). On 5 April 1888 he was baptised in St Mary Magdalene Church, Rowington Close, Paddington, where in the baptismal register his date of birth was confirmed, that his family were shown to be living at 5 Stalham Street, Paddington and that his father was a plasterer. (Stalham Street was later renamed to Statham Street).
He was shown as aged 3 years in the census that was undertaken on 5 April 1891. He was living in one room within 5 Stalham Street, Paddington, London, with his parents and two siblings: Alice Maud Taylor (1889-1974) and Arthur James Taylor (b.1890). His father continued to be listed as a plasterer.
Having attended Holy Trinity Infants School, on 4 June 1895 he was admitted into Holy Trinity with St Paul's School, Westminster, London, where according the school admissions register he was still residing at 5 Stalham Street, Paddington. He remained at this school until he was removed on 18 March 1901.
When the census was compiled on 31 March 1901 he was described as aged 13 years and living in two rooms within 31 Goldney Road, Maida Vale, London, with his parents and his two siblings. His father remained to be shown as a plasterer.
In October 1905 he was appointed as an assistant postman in Paddington and on 15 August 1908 was promoted to postman in the Western District Office, London.
On 7 August 1910 he married Annie Moore (b.1891) at St Luke's Church, Fernhead Road, West Kilburn, London, where in the marriage register he is shown as aged 22 years, a bachelor and a postman who was living at 168 Bravington Road, Maida Vale, the son of James Taylor, a deceased plasterer, whilst his wife was described as aged 19 years and a spinster who was also residing at 168 Bravington Road, Maida Vale, the daughter of Robert Moore, a deceased painter.
When he completed his census return form on 2 April 1911 he described himself as aged 23 years and a G.P.O. postman, living in four rooms within 247 Portnall Road, Paddington, with his wife.
On 5 July 1913 their daughter, Phyllis Elsie Taylor, was born and when she was baptised on 30 July 1913 the family were still living at 247 Portnall Road.
In November 1915 he enlisted in the 1st/8th (City of London)Battalion, The London Regiment (Post Office Rifles), service number 4753, but was later transferred first to the 9th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles, service number 9/44895 and then to the 15th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles.
He was captured and died from cardiac weakness and exhaustion as a prisoner of war, aged 30 years, on 22 June 1918 in Berlin, Germany. He is at the Berlin South-Western Cemetery, Bahnhofstraße 2, 14532 Stahnsdorf, Germany.
On 12 December 1918 his widow was awarded his £100-5s-6d gratuity by the Post Office for his 9 years, 10 months service with Royal Mail.
By September 1919 his widow and daughter were awarded a £15 war gratuity and together with his effects it was split so that his widow received £8-15s-9d and his daughter £17-11s-6d. They were living at this time at 218 Portnall Road, Paddington. He was also posthumously awarded the British War Medal 1914-1918 and the Victory Medal.
He is shown as 'TAYLOR, G.D.' on the Western Postal District war memorial in Mount Pleasant, London, WC1. He is also commemorated on the , on the , on the , on the , on the and on .
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
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