Hugh Taylor
Stephen LearmonthHugh Taylor was born in Stawell, Victoria, in February 1888, to John and Alice (née Rees) Taylor. He was the youngest of five children. At some stage before 1914 the Taylor family moved to Corryong, where they ran the general store. Hugh was also the secretary for the Upper Murray Rifle Club for five years.
On the 31st of August, 1915, Hugh enlisted in the AIF, being allotted the service number 3633 and becoming a member of the 8th Reinforcements for the 24th Battalion. Early in the new year, the 8th Reinforcements boarded HMAT A19 Afric at the Port of Melbourne. Arriving in Alexandria on 21 March they transferred to HMT Oriana, disembarking at the Port of Marseilles, France six days later.
Two months after being promoted to Lance Corporal, Hugh was wounded with a gunshot wound to his left arm. He was initially taken to the 5th Field Ambulance before being transferred to the 38th Casualty Clearing Station where he remained for a week before rejoining his battalion.
Hugh was killed in action at Zonnebeke ridge, in front of Ypres, on the 30th of September, 1917. Witnesses say that he was sniped through the head with death being instantaneous. Initially, he was buried in the German cemetery near the ridge, however, after the war, it was not possible to relocate his grave. Hugh is now remembered at the Menin Gate Memorial in Ypres, Belgium, along with 54000 officers and men whose graves are not known.
Hugh is remembered at the Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, the Menin Gate Memorial in Ypres, Flanders, Belgium, The Corryong State School Roll of Honour, and the Corryong War Memorial. For his service during the First World War, he was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
