Trafford

Born during the March quarter 1914 in the Bucklow R.D. - ref: 8a/281, the
son of John Henry & Mary Taylor (nee Taylor).

Attended Ashley C.of E. School and Altrincham Grammar School.    Employed
as an Internal Auditor at the British Empire, Boiler & Electrical Insurance
Co. in Manchester, until called up in 1941.  He was fond of tennis and
football and attended the Pepper Street Congregational Church, Mobberley.

1939 National Registration - Small Lane, Mobberley.   John Henry Taylor -
Married - born on the 12th June 1885 - occ: Emulsion Maker's Labourer.  He
was also serving in the A.R.P. (Air Raid Precautions) service.   Mary
Taylor - Married - born on the 24th October 1883 - occ: Unpaid Domestic
Duties.   Frank Taylor - Single - born on the 24th January 1913 (sic) -
occ: Internal Auditor Insurance.   There were three redacted records at
this address - probably younger siblings, redacted under the 100 year
rule.

As part of "Force K", an anti-shipping campaign in the Mediterranean, the
Cruisers "Aurora", "Penelope" and "Neptune" with four destroyers, were
hunting an Italian convoy bound for Tripoli when they ran into an Italian
minefield at 00.39 hrs and sank with all but one of her 764 crew.  Four out
of the five R.N. ships were struck by mines. 

They had sailed from Malta on the 18th December 1941 and were 20 miles
north of Tripoli in position 33.15 N: 33.30 E.   At 00.39 hrs, HMS Neptune,
an Achilles Class Cruiser hit a mine in one of her paravanes.  Immediately
Captain R. O'Connor went full astern in order to clear the minefield.  As
she did, she hit another mine which blew off her propellers, leaving her
dead in the water.  At 01.00 hrs "Neptune" hit a third mine.  At 04.00 hrs
she hit a fourth mine that exploded under the bridge.  Five minutes later,
she rolled over and sank.  By dawn on the 19th, only the Captain and a few
others remained alive in the heavy sea.  Over the next four days the
survivors gradually succumbed to exhaustion and hypothermia until only
Leading Seaman J. Waters was left alive.  He was rescued by an Italian
torpedo boat on the 23rd and became a POW.

Death reported in the 19/06/1942 edition of the Sale & Stretford Guardian.

Commemorated on the private family gravestone in S.S. Wilfred & Mary
Churchyard, Mobberley.

CWGC - Son of John Henry & Mary Taylor of Mobberley, Cheshire.

His father - John Henry Taylor died on the 15th April 1964, aged: 78 years
and his mother - Mary Taylor died on the 2nd June 1949, aged: 66 years.

Commemorated in The Mobberley Parish Council's Booklet - "1914-2014,
Remembering the Men from Mobberley who went to War for their Country" - per
Alistair MacLeod.