Mount (Mont) Alexander Taylor
From Our Contribution
 Western mail 16 Nov 1917 page 1s | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 27 May 1878 |
| Place of Birth | Dublin, South Australia |
| Death | 4 May 1963, age 84 |
| Place of Death | Subiaco, Western Australia |
| Age at Enlistment | 37 years, 7 months |
| Description | 5'7½" (1.71m)tall; weight 145 lbs (65.8 kg); fair complexion, blue eyes, dark hair. |
| Occupation | farmer |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Address | Forrest Dale, Jandakot, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Wife Mrs Catherine Taylor |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | 260A |
| Date of Enlistment | 24 February 1916 |
| Rank | Lance Corporal |
| Unit/Formation | 44th Battalion, B Company |
| Date of Embarkation | 6 Jun 1916 - 21 Jul 1916 |
| Ship Embarked On | HMAT A29 Suevic |
| Date of Return | 9 Feb 1919 - 17 Mar 1919 |
| Ship Returned On | HMAT A11 Ascanius |
| Fate |
Wounded in Action 13 Feb 1918 Returned to Australia |
| Monument | None at present |
| Medals |
British War Medal Victory Medal |
Pre War
Electoral Roll entries - 1903 Hale road Jandakot, bee keeper; 1906 farmer with Catherine who gives address as Jandakot Lake (Forrestdale Lake), 1910 East Jandakot; 1916 Commercial road, Jandakot Lake. Mont married Catharine Symonds on 5 Jun 1902 in Bunbury. Children were Clara Jane (b.1902 - d.1902); Montague Cecil (b.1903 - d.1992); Katherine Clara (b.1905 - d.2004); Gwendoline Elizabeth(b.1907 - d.1970); Marguarite Alexander (b.1909 - d.1989); son, name and details not known. Catharine died 1973.
War Service
Entered the Claremont training camp where a fortnight later on 3 Mar 1916 he was allocated to B Company 44th Battalion.
The voyage to England was via Durban (21 Jun 1916), Cape Town (22 - 27 Jun 1917), and St Vincent (11 - 13 July) before arriving in Devonport where they entrained for the Salisbury Plains, arriving there 6½ hours later. Two soldiers died during the sea voyage.
Battalion diaries for the next three months are missing, but from his records it would appear that Mont goes to France with the 44th Battalion, but soon after is sent back to England i.e. on 5 Sep 1916 he is embarked on HMHS St Patrick and admitted to 3rd London General Hospital from 6 Sep - 6 Oct 1916.
On discharge from hospital he spent several days with the 3rd Training Battalion before being sent overseas again on 9 Oct 1916 as a reinforcement for the 11th Battalion. However, in Étaples he is instead transferred to the 51st Battalion which he joined on 20 Oct 1916.
Hospitalised again from 2 Dec 1916 until 28 Jan 1917 with bronchitis. This period included time in the 12th General Hospital in Rouen after being treated processing by 5th Australian Field Ambulance and the 38th Casualty Clearing Station. On 30 Dec he is admitted to the 2nd Convalescent Depot, and then released to the 4th Division Base Depot on 11 Jan 1917.
Returned to his unit, on 18 May 1917 he was appointed Lance Corporal before again spending time in hospital at Boulogne with exhaustion from 13 Oct to 2 Nov 1917. He had earlier reverted to the ranks at his own request on 14 Aug 1917.
In January 1918 he was detached to the 4th Division Pack Troop for 10 days. Wounded in Action on 13 Feb 1918 as the battalion relieved the 42nd Battalion, he remained on duty.
In late September, early October 1918 he is granted leave in England and soon after is ill with influenza, being treated by the 13th Australian Field Ambulance, the 41st Stationary Hospital, and the 10th General Hospital in Rouen. Reclassified he was transferred to England from Le Havre, arriving in Southampton n 14 Jan 1919 where he was sent on to Sutton Veny.
Returned to England from France on 7 Jan 1919, disembarking in Southampton.
Discharged at 5th Military District on 3 May 1919 having arrived back in Australia on the "Ascanius" on 24 March.
Post War
Electoral Roll entries - 1919 at 51 Thomas street South Fremantle, plumber; 1922 - 1958 at 31 Petra street ;1963 at 14 Hapgood street, Fremantle. Catherine died 3 Nov 1973 in East Fremantle, aged 91.
Notes
Wife moved to South Fremantle during January 1917.