Taylor | Raymond Victor
Biography
Victor Raymond Taylor (Service No. 14227043) was taken prisoner on 4 October 1944 and died on 3 May 1945. He was a Private in the 2nd Battalion of the Devonshire Regiment. He was initially buried in grave CCC-1-23 at the Margraten Cemetery and re-interred on 1 May 1947 in grave IV. A.11 at the Overloon Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery in Overloon. His inscription reads “Although your voice we cannot hear remembrance brings you very near.”
Family Background
Victor Raymond Taylor (or Raymond Victor Taylor as he was known at birth) was the son of George Taylor and Agnes Stokes who had married in the market town of Ramsey in Huntingdonshire in 1896. George was born in 1874/5 while Agnes was born on 14 June 1875 – both in Ramsey. They had 8 boys, all in Ramsey: Arthur Cyril 1897, Harry Elijah 1900, George Leonard 1902, Reginald William 1904, Archibald Fred 1906, Aubrey Rowland 1908, Raymond Victor 29/5/1911 and Eric C 1915.
In 1901 George and Agnes were living with their first two boys at Dove House Farm, Hollow, Ramsey. George was working as a Stockman on a farm. Another single man aged 19 was boarding with them. He was a Horse Keeper. By 1911, George had his own farm and they were living at 141 Great Whyte, Ramsey with their first six sons. They were at the same address, also known as The Hawthorns, in June 1921 and George was still a farmer. Their son, Arthur, had married Evelyn V Potts in 1920. He and Evelyn were living as boarders at Star Lane, Ramsey in the household of Christopher Perry a 68 year old widower and retired Fruit Gardener. Arthur was working for himself as a Smallholder. The remaining seven boys, including Victor, were still living with their parents, with the three eldest of these working as farm labourers for their brother, Arthur.
Sadly, Geoge Taylor died just a few months later on 26 August 1921. The seven boys who were still at home were aged just 6 to 21 – and Victor himself was only 10. The Hawthorns was put up for auction in October, described in the Peterborough Standard of 24 September 1921 as “A valuable freehold, desirable residence with large garden and frontages to Great White and Newtown Road – Stabling, Coach House and Open Shed, range of small barns, 4 Bay Open Shed and Fowl Place.”
Four of Victor’s brothers (Harry, George, Reginald and Aubrey) had either moved away from Ramsey to seek work elsewhere or were difficult to trace after 1921. His brother, Archibald, married Gladys J Cleever in Ramsey in 1935 and Eric married Dorothy Payne there in 1940.
Victor himself married Annie Elizabeth Parker at Ramsey Church on 18 April 1938, but he was still referring to himself as Raymond Victor Taylor. Their wedding photo appeared in the Peterborough Standard of 22 April 1938.
Annie Elizabeth Parker was the daughter of George Parker and Emily Maycock who had married in Ramsey in 1907. George was born on 18 January 1874 in Ramsey and Emily on 13 August 1885 in Ramsey Hollow. They had five children in Ramsey as follows: Margaret Evelyn 1909, Maurice 1911, Annie Elizabeth 22/5/1913, Charles Reginald 27/9/1914 and George Edgar 19/9/1921.
In 1911, George and Emily were living at Catons Farm, Ramsey Hollow, Ramsey with their first child. George was working as a Horseman on a farm. They were still at Ramsey Hollow in 1921 with their first four children. George was still working as a Horseman on a farm which was owned by Alfred Caton, Farmer, of Ramsey.
After their marriage in 1938, Victor and Annie Taylor (now referring to herself as Elizabeth) were living at 34a Great Whyte, Ramsey in September 1939. Victor was working as a Carpenter and his wife was working as a Land Worker. It is not thought that they had any children.
At this time, Victor’s mother, Agnes Taylor, was living at 38 West Avenue, Ramsey. None of her children were living with her, but a married Butcher’s Van Driver called Bernard A Worraker, born 23 April 1916, was living in her household, perhaps as a lodger.
Meanwhile, Victor’s wife’s parents were still living at The Hollow, Ramsey. George was still working as a Farm Worker. Their two youngest children were still with them. One was working as a Farm Labourer and the other as a Horse Keeper.
Military Career
It is not known when Victor Raymond Taylor joined up in the 2nd Battalion of the Devonshire Regiment, though it is likely to have been early in the war.
The Battalion was a Regular Army unit that was serving on the island of Malta as part of the 1st Malta Infantry Brigade and was involved in the siege of Malta from June 1940 until November 1942. The Brigade was redesignated as the 231st Infantry Brigade in April 1943.
In July 1943 the battalion, together with the 231st Brigade, fought in the Allied invasion of Sicily, and, briefly, in the Allied invasion of Italy in September. After Italy the brigade was withdrawn to Sicily and then the United Kingdom where it became permanently part of the veteran 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division and trained with them in preparation for the Allied invasion of Normandy.
On D-Day, 6 June 1944, it was intended that the battalion should land at Le Hamel, on Gold Beach, behind the 1st Hampshires. However, owing to adverse sea conditions and an unexpectedly high tidal surge, three of the four rifle companies were carried over a mile to the east before they could make landfall and had to make their way to their assigned assembly point on foot. Of the four company commanders, two were wounded and one was killed. The battalion continued to fight well throughout the Battle of Normandy.
On 4 September the Battalion entered Belgium where they received a warm welcome. The war diary reports that “It seemed that the Belgians’ had brought out all their garden produce for us and every vehicle was soon laden with apples, pears plums, and flowers; beer was also provided.” They reached Brussels that day.
They helped with the capture of Antwerp in early September and crossed into the Netherlands on 17 September and reached Mill on 26 September where they were able to relax for a few days. During this time, they enjoyed games of football, including a game against a Dutch team which ended in a 5-5 draw. The locals helped them arrange a Harvest Festival for the evening of 20 September, hastily rearranged from the following day when they learnt they had to move on that day. They had enjoyed their time in Mill and liked the people.
On 1 October the 2nd Devons left Mill and were transported via Grave, across the Maas and on to Berg en Dal which was two miles to the east of Nijmegen. Here, however, they received orders to move again the following day.
By this point, Operation Market Garden had failed following the failure to take the bridge at Arnhem. The 1st Airborne Division had been withdrawn from Arnhem on 28 September. However, a large Allied bridgehead had been established on ‘The Island’, the low polderland between the Waal at Nijmegen and the Neder Rijn at Arnhem. The German High Command regarded the bridgehead as a severe threat, fearing it might be used as a springboard for future Allied operations to the north which could lead to an attack on the plains of north-western Germany. They wanted to move quickly to retake the island before the Allied front had settled. Their commander was supplied with three Panzer divisions to do so, even though he had strong reservations about its likelihood of success. The low water-logged country of ‘The Island’, criss-crossed by numerous drainage ditches and canals, was anything but favourable for tank warfare. However, Hitler ordered that the attack should go ahead.
On 1 October, British forces were holding an east facing front, north of Nijmegen – through Bemmel, then northwards through Aam, Elst, De Laar and Driel. The enemy attacked these positions on 1 and 2 October but were successfully repulsed. They were assisted on 2 October by a series of bomber raids on the bridge at Arnhem, the German bridgehead south of Arnhem and key ferry crossings on the Lower Rhine designed to disrupt the German attack.
Meanwhile, the Allies were planning a counter attack by clearing the area to the east and north east of Bemmel up to an area of waterlogged ground in front of the Linge/Wetering Canal. This would form a defensive barrier to prevent the Germans from threatening the Nijmegen bridges. This was undertaken by 50th Northumbrian Division, which included the 2nd Devonshires. This plan included securing the small village of Haalderen and the two brickworks south of it as the high chimneys of these factories offered a clear view of the Nijmegen bridge.
On 2 October therefore, the remainder of 50 (N) Division took over the sector around Bemmel from the 69th Brigade, whose by now exhausted battalions (5 East Yorks, 6 and 7 Green Howards) were pulled out to Nijmegen for rest. As the take-over started the balance of Fifty Division was still south of Nijmegen and had to enter the Island by way of the Nijmegen Bridge. 231 Bde, with the 1st Dorsets, 2 Devons and 1st Hampshires was first across, taking over positions from the 69th Brigade. The 2nd Devons occupied their new areas among water-logged ditches, muddy orchards, and the mouldering rubble of farm-houses almost without incident, though C Company, which was in the area of the Vergert orchard, did encounter some enemy soldiers, some of whom were taken prisoner, and also suffered almost continuous stonking by the enemy which the rest of the Battalion also suffered to some extent. The War Diary states that “ ‘C’ Company’s position was reputed to be a most unhealthy spot”.
The Battalion had a quiet day for most of 3 October as the main Allied attack was due to start the following day.
However, during the night of 3-4 October, the Germans struck first in an attempt to finally secure the Heuvel – Vergert area. The main effort ran straight into the position of the 1st Hampshires in the orchard around the Houtakker farm. The right prong of this counterattack hit the 2nd Devons in the orchards at Vergert. The 2nd Devons’ War Diary states that, at the start of this attack, the Battalion suffered the heaviest and worst shelling they had ever met, with “C” Company being the worst hit. The frontline in this area was rather obscure, as both opponents were in close contact. Around 00.30 hrs German troops infiltrated between ‘A’ and ‘C’ Coy of the 2nd Devons. All communications with ‘C’ Company ceased and the company was isolated. Eventually, a counterattack by ‘B’ Company of the 2nd Devons, supported by tanks of the 1st Coldstream Guards, restored the position in the early morning of 4 October.
During the counterattack at Vergert, Sgt Thomas A. Woodcock, ‘C’ Coy, 2nd Devons, volunteered to go forward and rescue some wounded who were left in no-man’s land after his platoon had been forced to give some ground. He was awarded a Military Medal.
This attack by the enemy had not succeeded, so the Allied attack could go ahead as planned on 4 October. This was to take place in three phases, the first of which involved 231 Brigade, including the 2nd Devons. The aim was for the 1stDorsets to secure the left flank of the division and clear the area of Heuvel and for the 1st Hampshires to clear the orchards opposite Houtakker farm. Meanwhile, in the 2nd Devons, “B” Company took over completely from “C” Company and were ordered to restore their position completely. This proved difficult in the orchards, but during the late afternoon and evening they finally succeeded in mopping up the enemy in the orchards around Vergert, which had been such a trouble spot over the last days.
It was on 4 October that Victor Raymond Taylor was initially reported as missing. It is most likely that this was during the German attack on the night of 3 to 4 October. Initially he, along with 9 other men, were reported on the same Casualty List as missing – believed prisoners of war. However, three of these were later reported as killed in action. In total, 12 of the 2nd Devonshires were killed in action on that day. Most are now buried in the Arnhem Oosterbeek Cemetery with two commemorated on the Groesbeek Memorial and one at Jonkerbos.
After dark on 5 October, another man from this battalion, Private Naylor, was returned to the Battalion having been taken prisoner on the night of the 3rd. While being escorted to enemy lines he had been wounded by the Allies’ shellfire and had lain up in a ditch ever since.
The remaining two phases involved two battalions of 151 Brigade gaining two small clusters of houses called Baal and Klein Baal and the surrounding orchards followed by an attack to secure Haalderen and the two brickworks next to the Waal river. Both of these also succeeded. The battered German troops retreated across the Linge/Wetering Canal on the night of 4/5 October.
Attacks by the enemy on De Laar also continued until 5 October. However, on 6 October paratroopers from the 101st US Airborne Division, who had taken over from the British forces, succeeded in a counter attack here too.
On 6 Oct the Arnhem road bridge was targeted by medium bombers but most of the bombs landed just north of the bridge. The next afternoon a renewed attempt was made by seven U.S. Medium Bombers (Marauders) and this time several direct hits were scored on the road bridge, which completely destroyed it. The destruction of the road bridge on 7 October was the final blow for the German offensive.
The Hunts Post of 26 October, 1944 reported “Mrs A.E. Taylor, of The Hollow, has been informed that her husband, Raymond V. Taylor, son of Mrs G. Taylor, 38, The Avenue, is missing in NW Europe.”
It was eventually discovered that Victor, along with 5 of the men reported as missing on the same initial casualty list as him had been sent to the German prison camp Stalag IV b Mühlberg on the Elbe River in the state of Brandenburg. Victor was given prisoner number 92246. One other was sent to Kunau Kr Sprottau at Sagan.
Shortly before the end of the war, the German commander, Hauptmann König, summoned the confidants of the various nationalities present in the Mühlberg camp. It appears that he wanted to hand over the leadership of the camp to the POWs themselves. On April 13, 1945, a written announcement appeared that read: “By order of the various nationalities in the camp, from this day forward, the leadership is entrusted to: the 1st Lieutenant H.V.E. Jessop, nationality: English.” An international camp police took charge of maintaining order amidst the now 25,000 POWs of all nationalities. (including Dutch prisoners). The food supply and guarding of the camp remained in German hands for the time being, according to the announcement. This remarkable division of labour did not last for any length of time. On Monday morning, April 23, 1945, to everyone’s surprise, it appeared that the German guards had secretly left and Red Army cavalrymen arrived at the camp.
Victor Raymond Taylor was liberated by the Russian army but had become seriously ill in the meantime.
He died at the age of 34 on May 3, 1945, of diphtheria in a U.S. Military Hospital.
Aftermath
Victor’s death was reported as follows in the Peterborough Standard of 28 September 1945: “Pte. Raymond V. Taylor, Ramsey Hollow: Died of diptheria in an American Military Hospital on May 3rd, after release from a German prison camp. He was a carpenter for Mr E Shepperson, builder, Gt. Whyte, Ramsey.”
He is commemorated on the War Memorial in his home town of Ramsey.
He had appointed his mother-in-law, Mrs G Parker, of Hollow, Ramsey as the administrator of his will and left his estate to his wife, Mrs A.E. Taylor, c/o his mother-in-law’s address.
Annie Elizabeth Taylor’s mother, Emily Parker, died in 1954 and her father, George Parker, in the following year on 20 October 1955. At the time of his death George was living at 10 Princess Street, Ramsey. His son, George Edgar Parker, and his daughter, Annie Elizabeth Taylor, administered his estate.
Victor’s mother, Agnes Taylor, died in 1958.
Victor’s wife never remarried and lived to 94. She died on 23 August 2007 in the Ramsey area.
