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Rifleman Ewen Taylor
Description
TitleRifleman Ewen TaylorAlternative NameJohnSummaryA soldier in World War One. DescriptionEwen was born Leeston on 4 June 1875, son of Ewen and Annie Taylor. He seems to have been known locally as John. At the time of enlisting his father was dead and he noted that his mother was partially dependent. He was greatly respected in the district and was employed as groom and gardener at "Ravensbourne" for Miss A. Chamberlain. He was 5ft 8in tall with a fair complexion, blue eyes and fair hair.
He enlisted at Leeston on 12 December 1916, although his service was not reckoned until 5 January 1917. In January he was assigned to New Zealand Rifle Brigade, 24th Reinforcements, G Company. He embarked from Wellington on board the Devon on 5 April 1917 and disembarked in Devonport on 11 June 1917. He marched into Sling camp on the same day and left for France 6 July reaching Base Depot at Etaples on 10 July. He joined the Division in the field on 8 August and was posted to A Company, 3rd Brigade, 4th Battalion the next day. As was not unusual given the crowded and unsanitary conditions, he developed scabies and was sent to No.133 Field Ambulance then to No.50 Casualty Clearing Station on 11th September and then on to No.1 Canadian Hospital at Etaples and finally to the Convalescent Depot. It was not until 21 September that he was released to return to his unit. He re-joined them in the filed on 8 October 1917. He was killed in action 8 January 1918, aged 43. At that time the Rifle Brigade was back in the front line with the 4th Battalion in the Nord subsector around the remains of the hamlet of Noordemdhoek. They were relieved on 8 January, on which day there was a severe snowstorm. The Regimental history notes that on the night of the relief the enemy attempted to raid the point of the salient at Joiner's Avenue in the 4th Battalion line. After a sharp fight the raiders were driven off. His body was buried close to where he fell and a letter in his record reports that his body was removed from its isolated grave and with all reverence re-interred in the Oxford Road Cemetery. In New Zealand Ewen is remembered on the Leeston Plaque of the Ellesmere County War Memorial.
The cemetery is located to the north-east of the town of Ieper. Oxford Road was the name given to a road running behind the support trenches, from a point west of the village of Wieltje south-eastwards to the Potijze-Zonnebeke road. Plot I is the original Oxford Road Cemetery and was used by the units fighting on this front from August 1917 to April 1918.First NameEwenLast NameTaylorFamilySingleSon of Ewen and Annie TaylorDate of Birth4 June 1875Place of BirthLeestonDate of Death8 January 1918Place of DeathBelgiumCause of DeathKilled in Action
He enlisted at Leeston on 12 December 1916, although his service was not reckoned until 5 January 1917. In January he was assigned to New Zealand Rifle Brigade, 24th Reinforcements, G Company. He embarked from Wellington on board the Devon on 5 April 1917 and disembarked in Devonport on 11 June 1917. He marched into Sling camp on the same day and left for France 6 July reaching Base Depot at Etaples on 10 July. He joined the Division in the field on 8 August and was posted to A Company, 3rd Brigade, 4th Battalion the next day. As was not unusual given the crowded and unsanitary conditions, he developed scabies and was sent to No.133 Field Ambulance then to No.50 Casualty Clearing Station on 11th September and then on to No.1 Canadian Hospital at Etaples and finally to the Convalescent Depot. It was not until 21 September that he was released to return to his unit. He re-joined them in the filed on 8 October 1917. He was killed in action 8 January 1918, aged 43. At that time the Rifle Brigade was back in the front line with the 4th Battalion in the Nord subsector around the remains of the hamlet of Noordemdhoek. They were relieved on 8 January, on which day there was a severe snowstorm. The Regimental history notes that on the night of the relief the enemy attempted to raid the point of the salient at Joiner's Avenue in the 4th Battalion line. After a sharp fight the raiders were driven off. His body was buried close to where he fell and a letter in his record reports that his body was removed from its isolated grave and with all reverence re-interred in the Oxford Road Cemetery. In New Zealand Ewen is remembered on the Leeston Plaque of the Ellesmere County War Memorial.
The cemetery is located to the north-east of the town of Ieper. Oxford Road was the name given to a road running behind the support trenches, from a point west of the village of Wieltje south-eastwards to the Potijze-Zonnebeke road. Plot I is the original Oxford Road Cemetery and was used by the units fighting on this front from August 1917 to April 1918.First NameEwenLast NameTaylorFamilySingleSon of Ewen and Annie TaylorDate of Birth4 June 1875Place of BirthLeestonDate of Death8 January 1918Place of DeathBelgiumCause of DeathKilled in Action
Connections
CollectionSoldiers of Selwyn World War OneImageLeeston and Ellesmere County War MemorialMore InformationAuckland War Memorial Cenotaph
Military Service
Memorial or CemeteryOxford Road CemeteryEllesmere County War MemorialRegiment or ServiceNew Zealand Rifle BrigadeEnlistment Details12th December 1916 at Leeston Service Number44169Embarkation5th April 1917Place of EmbarkationWellington TransportDevonReinforcement24th Reinforcements, G CompanyCountryNew Zealand
Attribution
Researched ByL. M. Seaton
Rifleman Ewen Taylor. Selwyn Stories, accessed 25/06/2026, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/234