John Taylor
Captain of the Forecastle, Royal Navy
- Register No.
- 1204 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Captain of the Forecastle all Captain of the Forecastles →
- Unit
- Royal Navy (register: Naval Brigade) all Naval Brigade VCs →
- Date of action
- 18 June 1855 on this day → all of 1855 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Crimean War
- London Gazette
- 24th February, 1857 on this day → all of 1857 →
- Born
- in 1822 * at Bristol (* January or February)
- Died
- 25th February 1857 at Woolwich, London. (The day following
- Memorial / grave
- Buried in Woolwich Old Cemetery, Plumstead. New headstone erected in 1996
- Medal held by
- the Sheesh Mahal Museum, Patalia, India
Digest of citation
Immediately after the assault on 18th June 1855 at Sebastopol in the Crimea, a wounded soldier was seen sitting up, approximately 70 yards away, amidst heavy gunfire, and calling for help. He had been wounded in both legs. Lieutenant RABY, Boatswain CURTIS and Captain of the Forecast Taylor, climbing over the breastwork of the advanced Sap, they left the safety of their Battery Works and ran forward towards the salient angle of the Redan, under extremely heavy fire from the enemy, and succeeded in carrying back the wounded man to safety
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
TAYLOR, John. (reg No. 1204).
Captain of the Forecastle Royal Navy. * London Gazetted on 24th February, 1857.
VC Medal's Custodian is the Sheesh Mahal Museum, Patalia, India.
Born in 1822 * at Bristol (* January or February).
Died on 25th February 1857 at Woolwich, London. (The day following the Gazetting of his VC).
Buried in Woolwich Old Cemetery, Plumstead. New headstone erected in 1996.
Digest of Citation reads: Immediately after the assault on 18th June 1855 at Sebastopol in the Crimea, a wounded soldier was seen sitting up, approximately 70 yards away, amidst heavy gunfire, and calling for help. He had been wounded in both legs. Lieutenant RABY, Boatswain CURTIS and Captain of the Forecast Taylor, climbing over the breastwork of the advanced Sap, they left the safety of their Battery Works and ran forward towards the salient angle of the Redan, under extremely heavy fire from the enemy, and succeeded in carrying back the wounded man to safety.
* Naval Brigade.
Additional information:. John Taylor also held the French Légion d'Honneur. According into the Victoria Cross 1856-1920, John Taylor died on the same day his VC was Gazetted.
Additional information
John Taylor also held the French Légion d'Honneur. According into the Victoria Cross 1856-1920, John Taylor died on the same day his VC was Gazetted.
* Naval Brigade.
the Gazetting of his VC).
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: Buried in Woolwich Old Cemetery, Plumstead. New headstone erected in 1996
Map links open a search for the place name Alf recorded; please check opening times and exact locations before travelling. Many VC graves have since been restored by the Victoria Cross Trust.
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