Current Information:

Age-25

13, Hotham Road, Putney

HAC Cemetery, Ecoust-St Mein, France

2nd Honourable Artillery Company, an infantry battalion despite its name, arrived in France on 2nd October, 1916 and became part of 22 Brigade, 7th Division. Their first experience in the front line came just over a week later, on 11th October, 1916,  when they took over the trenches in part of Ploegsteert Wood, just across the Belgian border from Armentières. They remained in this sector throughout October and most of November before moving south to the Somme for the rest of the winter.

During January, 1917, they were either in the front line or support or reserve at Beaumont-Hamel and sustained a number of casualties due to the heavy shelling there. By March 1917 the Germans were withdrawing all along this part of the front, back to the Hindenburg Line and at the beginning of the month 7th Division had also moved forward, keeping in contact with the enemy.

On 29th March, 2nd Honourable Artillery Company moved to Ervillers and on the next day took over the front line at Mory, a village half way between Bapaume and Arras. At dusk on 31 March one of their forward posts was heavily shelled and then attacked. The platoon there were reduced from forty to eight men and driven out, leaving many of their dead behind. The next day, at 4.00am, a counter attack was launched to regain this position but failed to do so and once again there were heavy casualties suffered by 2nd Honourable Artillery Company. Among those killed was Arthur Taylor on 31st March.