The Soldier's Details

George was youngest of 6 children born to the Taylor family. His father was employed as a miner initially at Coolgardie, later Kalgoorlie where George was born.  Tragically for the family Arthur Taylor died a relatively ‘early’ death from miner’s disease.

George’s older brother Kerry postponed his university studies at UWA, returned to Kalgoorlie finding employment to financially support the family, thus allowing his younger brother George  (17 years) to complete secondary school, at Christian Brothers College, Kalgoorlie.  George sat the Public Service exam and was appointed to Office of the Clerk of Courts, Bunbury.  The children had all attended North Kalgoorlie Primary school.

George joined in the Bunbury community enjoying many sporting interests. His death was a horrific blow to the family and in particular to older brother Kerry Taylor who was seven years older.

 

The Taylor family were not officially informed of George’s death until February 1946 – however they were not told any details.  The Australian Government had forbidden any information to be printed in Australian media and absolutely no details to families.

 

 

He was selected with ‘B’ Force to sail to Borneo where the POWs were assigned to construct an aerodrome near Sandakan.

George was on the Second Sandakan to Ranau Death March.

7 June 1945 – The Blackest Day on Second Sandakan March

At least 113 Australians had died in the first eight days of the Second March.  The following four 2/4th boys were included in a group of about 35 POWs who were first tied together by their genitals and massacred by their Japanese and Formosan guards at the 55 mile peg, about 8 km from Tangkul Crossing.

George’s body was recovered in 1946 near the track with 3 other men from the 2/4th – Charles Holme WX16416, Joseph Sevier WX8544 and George Smith WX4891 who according to Japanese records all ‘died on 7 June 1945 of various illnesses.’

 

Please read further about B and E Forces

Please read a personal account of George Taylor’s life

 

Above a small area of Sandakan to Ranau Track.

To see large map and photographs of all West Australians who lost their lives at Sandakan.

Height 5′ 9″

TAYLOR, Private, GEORGE LANE, WX14775, A.I.F. 2/4 M.G. Bn., Australian Infantry. 7 June 1945. Age 25. Son of Arthur Lane Taylor and Johanna Taylor, of Kalgoorlie, Western Australia. Panel 19.

Labuan Memorial, Malaysia.

 

 

• WA. Paybook photograph, taken on enlistment, of WX14775 Private George Lane Taylor, 2/​4th Machine Gun Battalion, Australian Infantry. He was one of over 2000 Allied prisoners of war (POW) held in the Sandakan POW camp in north Borneo, having been transferred there from Singapore as a part of B Force. The 1494 POW’s that made up B Force, were transported from Changi on 7 July 1942 on board the tramp ship Ubi Maru, arriving in Sandakan Harbour on 18 July 1942. Private Taylor, aged 25, died as a prisoner of the Japanese on 7 June 1945. He was the son of Arthur Lane Taylor and Johanna Taylor, of Kalgoorlie, WA. He is commemorated on the Labuan Memorial Panel 19. (Photograph copied from AWM232, items 4 and 5. Personal information from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database.)

 

Above Kings Park Honour Avenue

 

 

Wedding of Arthur (Archie) Taylor and Johanna Dowd, Kalgoorlie 1902.

George’s parents Arthur Lane Taylor (known as Archie) b. Eaglehawk, Victoria and Johanna Dowd from Ireland married Kalgoorlie 1901.  They remained living in Kalgoorlie.

George was the youngest of six children.    His father died Kalgoorlie on 1 Dec1937 aged 58 years.  Coming from the goldfields in Victoria to Kalgoorlie we must assume Arthur was employed in mining and having died of long term illness we also assume he had miner’s disease.  George’s mother Johanna Taylor died Dec 1961 aged 86 years.